Onodatesho Pavilion: Reusable CLT Timber Structure for Japan's Tree-Planting Festival
At the 76th National Tree-Planting Festival held in Ehime, Japan, the Onodatesho Pavilion was designed by Yano Aoyama Architecture Design as a temporary structure for the Emperor and Empress. Since 1950, Japan has introduced a temporary architectural piece for this occasion. Constructed from local cedar and cypress, the pavilion incorporates large cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and measures 12 by 2.3 meters. Its design features three asymmetrical planes inspired by Mt. Ishizuchi, achieved through six operations. Emphasizing material reuse, CLT cut-offs are utilized in secondary elements, and main panels will be transformed into furniture after the festival. Collaborating with local carpenters and manufacturers, the project reflects a commitment to sustainable architecture.
Key facts
- Onodatesho Pavilion designed by Yano Aoyama Architecture Design for the National Tree-Planting Festival in Ehime, Japan.
- The pavilion hosts the Emperor and Empress during the day-long festival.
- Japan has commissioned temporary state architecture for the festival since 1950.
- The structure uses regional cedar and cypress, and the largest CLT panels transportable in Japan (12 x 2.3 meters).
- The form is generated through six operations: tilt, rotate, lean, taper, shift, and cut.
- One main wooden mass leans 10 degrees toward the audience, referencing Mt. Ishizuchi.
- After the festival, CLT panels can be unbolted and repurposed as furniture in regional schools.
- The pavilion was developed with local carpenters, CLT manufacturers, and drafters.
Entities
Artists
- Yano Aoyama Architecture Design
Institutions
- designboom
Locations
- Ehime
- Japan
- Mt. Ishizuchi