Aida Sekkei Precut Factory

Aida Sekkei Precut Factory

Aida Sekkei Precut Factory is an innovative timber processing facility that exemplifies the seamless integration of industrial functionality with architectural aesthetics, recognized with a Golden A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. Located in Bando City, Japan, this state-of-the-art facility encompasses a total floor area of 15,206.32 square meters and features a distinctive floating, glass-enclosed walkway extending approximately 100 meters, designed to offer visitors an immersive view of the timber pre-cutting process. The architectural design incorporates several groundbreaking elements, most notably its pioneering use of small-section studs (30×120mm) commonly found in residential construction, ingeniously engineered to create trusses spanning 12 meters - a first-of-its-kind achievement in Japanese architecture. The office building, serving as the facility's facade, showcases innovative structural design through its scissor truss system, utilizing smaller cross-section members to create expansive spaces. The exterior design features a dramatic protruding massive timber element that symbolizes the facility's dynamic nature and technological advancement. The building's sophisticated design includes Japanese cypress pillars placed at precise 303mm intervals along the walls, complemented by 30mm thick cedar board insertions that form load-bearing structures. This architectural masterpiece successfully balances functional industrial requirements with aesthetic excellence, featuring a random stripe wooden shell that encases the viewing aisle, creating an illusion of floating architecture that symbolizes technological progression and innovation in timber processing.

architectural innovation, sustainable timber processing, industrial design excellence, Japanese construction technology, modern factory architecture, structural engineering advancement

— Adam Dawson