Timber Wharf
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サステナブル建築の新拠点、「横浜ティンバー・ワーフ」
Set to open in October 2025, Yokohama Timber Wharf features distinctive truss columns made from a hybrid of laminated wood and steel. This combination brings together the warmth and aesthetic appeal of timber with the strength and fire resistance of steel, ensuring both safety and long-term durability.
Designed by TJ Design & Architecture, the building presents a bold, forward-thinking vision grounded in environmental responsibility. The project aims to become a symbol of sustainable urban development, which demonstrates to future architects and developers the immense potential of wood as a primary material in modern city building.
From what I can gather, the facility will house a bakery and café on the ground floor, a restaurant suitable for weddings and events on the second floor, and a lounge, changing rooms, baggage storage, and other amenities designed for runners, walkers, and outdoor enthusiasts. These features align well with local lifestyle habits, especially along the scenic waterfront promenade that stretches from Rinko Park to Yamashita Park.
I am encouraged to see more architectural projects in Yokohama embracing wood in their designs. Another notable example is Port Plus, completed in 2023. This high-rise training and education facility, also located in Naka Ward, uses advanced timber technologies to push the limits of what’s possible in vertical wood construction.
Projects like Port Plus and Yokohama Timber Wharf reflect a growing shift in Yokohama and Tokyo away from carbon-intensive construction materials, which have long been favored for cost-efficiency, earthquake resilience, and fire resistance, towards mass timber solutions. These new technologies make it possible to meet fire codes and seismic requirements while reconnecting with Japan’s deep-rooted tradition of wooden architecture seen in shrines, temples, and homes.
Location: Rinko Parak, Yokohama, Japan
Timestamp: 2025/05/28・14:09
Fujifilm with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/2
Astia/Soft film simulation
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