Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) has designed a “Wooden Classroom” for Okayama University in Japan which will become the central teaching materials for new wooden construction education. Sources: Timberbiz, Design Boom
In order to satisfy the goal of creating full-size teaching materials for students studying wooden construction, the architects achieved a pillar-free large-span 18m×21.6m structure by using 1.8m cross-laminated timber (CLT) beams.
The company said that it wanted to show the future of wooden structures which is the target of sustainability, while creating “teaching materials that can be seen” by visualizing many new conceivable ideas, including the use of a monolithic CLT structure for the inside without any insulation, gradational changes in the size of openings according to the stress, organic arrangement of the ceiling joists in accordance with the stress diagram, and a transparent glass canopy composite structure consisting of CLT and steel members.
This ‘Wooden Classroom’ concept for Okayama University illustrates the potential of wooden construction. Beyond its role as an educational space, the project prompts contemplation about sustainable architectural innovations, involving both students and observers in envisioning eco-friendly design solutions.
The architects integrated a transparent glass canopy, merging CLT components with steel elements, to emphasize wood’s versatility when combined with other materials.
The design team at KKAA opted for an extensive, pillar-free structure measuring 18m×21.6m. This span was made possible through the strategic utilization of 1.8m cross-laminated timber (CLT) beams, effectively eliminating the need for internal pillars and enabling an expansive, open teaching area.
A key focus of the project revolved around representing the potential of sustainable wooden structures in the future. This was realized by translating conceptual ideas into tangible design elements. One of these innovations included the integration of a monolithic CLT structure for the interior, eliminating the requirement for conventional insulation.
The team also changed the size of openings based on how the structure handles stress, which showed how engineering can be practical. The arrangement of ceiling joists followed an organic pattern guided by stress diagrams, making the design both beautiful and useful.
