An environmentally friendly hotel realized through the use of local materials and advanced wooden construction technology.
Construction begins on the "(Tentative name) Kobiki Building Hotel Project".

■ Advanced, environmentally friendly hotels born from diverse wood construction and wood-based technologies

This project aims to realize a new way of using wood that connects cities and regions, and will involve the large-scale introduction of wood as described below, as well as developing designs that utilize it both inside and outside buildings.

1. By integrating equipment and seismic-resistant elements, we can achieve proactive and rational use of wood in construction.

When constructing an entire building using wood, the beam depth becomes larger compared to steel-frame construction, and there are significant restrictions on pipe penetrations into the beams. Furthermore, in the Ginza district, building height is restricted by the district plan, so it was necessary to secure the required number of floors and floor height within those limits.
Therefore, the central part of the building was constructed with a steel frame, consolidating various equipment and piping. By also concentrating seismic-resistant elements in the central part, it became possible to use wood construction for the guest room areas at both ends of the building while maintaining the necessary floor height.
The seismic elements in the central section include (1) the use of CLT seismic walls that also serve as interior finishes in the partition walls between units, and (2) the placement ^of "seismic wooden braces" on the perimeter. By ensuring the necessary seismic performance for the entire building through these measures, the wooden guest room areas at both ends are designed to bear only vertical loads. As a result, the cross-section of the wooden members is rationally reduced, achieving efficient wooden construction under the same floor height conditions as steel-frame construction.

2. facade design that serves as a symbol of environmentally conscious architecture

The building's facade is composed of parallelogram-shaped unit sashes with the same inclination angle as the "earthquake-resistant wooden braces" placed around the central perimeter of the building. This expresses wood construction and wood-based construction technology in the building's exterior, and by using the motif of a tree growing and spreading its branches, it represents the sustainable cycle that arises from the use of local materials. The aim is to create facade design that will become a symbol of environmentally conscious architecture, communicating the commitment to wood construction and wood-based construction to the city.

3. Unique guest room designs created by diverse wood construction and wood-based construction technologies.

On the guest room floors, different woodworking and wood-based construction techniques are employed in each area, creating unique guest room spaces. In the corner guest rooms at both the east and west ends of the building, wooden columns and beams are exposed indoors, creating a space where guests can feel the wooden structure itself. In the guest rooms on the north side of the central section facing Enbujo Street, CLT seismic walls (partition walls) and "seismic wooden braces" are exposed, creating a space where guests can experience woodworking techniques firsthand. In addition, the guest rooms on the south side of the central section utilize wood-based construction techniques, primarily "reinforced lumber formwork," to create a space where guests can enjoy the appearance and texture of wood.
By incorporating these diverse woodworking and wood-based construction techniques into the guest rooms, we aim to create a rich and fulfilling stay environment where guests can interact with wood in various ways and experience its charm.

■ From the Regions to Tokyo: A Sustainable Regional Cooperation Model Where Cities and Regions Support Each Other

This project aims to realize a new way of using timber that connects urban and rural areas, utilizing wood produced in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture. By linking cities with high demand for timber with regions that possess abundant forest resources, it will revitalize the local economy and create a cycle of forest resources.
Kamaishi City is home to a Nippon Steel Works, and the Nippon Steel Group has cultivated long-standing ties with the city. This project aims to address the challenges facing Kamaishi City, such as creating local industries for post-earthquake reconstruction and ensuring the proper management and utilization of forests. It will establish a system for the circulation of forest resources between urban areas with high demand for building materials and regions that produce forest resources. The project will contribute to regional development through the use of local timber in urban areas and aim to realize a sustainable regional cooperation model in which cities and regions support each other.
Furthermore, when utilizing local timber, we understand the strength distribution through grading ^* and create structural plans that take advantage of the unique characteristics of each type of timber. In addition, we actively incorporate hardwoods, a resource unique to this region, into interiors and furniture. By incorporating the characteristics of local resources into architecture, we propose new possibilities for the use of local timber in urban areas.

■ Evaluation of pioneering wooden construction and wood-based materials, and acquisition of environmental certifications

This project has been highly praised as an advanced initiative in urban areas for the use of wood in construction and wood materials, and has been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's FY2026 Excellent Wooden Building Development Promotion Project "Leading Framework". The "Leading Framework" is a system that supports projects that introduce leading design and construction technologies in medium- to large-scale wooden buildings that are expected to have carbon storage effects, in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Furthermore, the project is proceeding on the premise of obtaining"LEED Gold"certification, which evaluates the environmental performance of buildings, and"SITES Gold"certification, which evaluates the sustainability of Landscape and site environments. By improving environmental performance from both the building and site environment perspectives, the project aims to achieve comprehensive sustainability.

Related department profile

Wood Construction Lab
The Wood Architecture Lab within Mitsubishi Jisho Design R&D Promotion Department is a specialized organization that consolidates knowledge of wood and wood-based architecture scattered throughout the company, connecting it to social implementation from both research and design perspectives. Rather than making the use of wood an end in itself, it emphasizes "the right material in the right place," taking into account its performance, structure, and expression. It advocates "X WOOD," a concept that combines wood with various elements of cities and buildings, not just structural and interior materials. Working in collaboration with various companies within Mitsubishi Estate Group and material and technology partners, it expands the possibilities of wood and envisions a better landscape of cities and living spaces.