Though this news broke a couple weeks ago, it’s still fascinating to read about and making the rounds on various online news outlets. A Japanese wood products company, Sumitomo Forestry, is presently making plans to create a gigantic wooden skyscraper to commemorate its 350th anniversary (which will be in 2041, the aspired date of completion for the project). Presumably for practical and safety reasons, the structure will be 90% wood and 10% steel beams, and the design will account for resilience against the elements and Japan’s frequent earthquakes. Incredibly ambitious!

At 70 stories and 1,150 ft tall, the proposed building will be home to shops, offices, and residences. Some of the overall aims of the construction are to use materials with lower carbon footprints and promote replanting and revitalization of forestry. Will the design be successful in raising awareness of the natural world in urban settings? I suppose we’ll have to wait and see! See some more of the proposed designs here.