Japan's Ehime Pavilion: 12x2.3m CLT Panels for School Furniture Reuse

Temporary Pavilion Built with Regional Timber and Large-Format CLT

Yano Aoyama Architecture Design completed the Onodatesho Pavilion in Ehime, Japan. This temporary structure served as the ceremonial building for Japan's annual National Tree-Planting Festival, hosting dignitaries for the day-long event focused on forest appreciation and preservation.

The pavilion incorporates regional cedar and cypress sourced from Ehime, establishing a direct material link to the area’s forests. A central element of the construction is the use of large cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. These panels measure 12 by 2.3 meters, representing the largest CLT panels transportable within Japan. The design prioritizes the subsequent reuse of these primary materials.

Structural Design Emphasizes Material Integrity for Reuse

The architectural approach by Yano Aoyama Architecture Design combined these large-scale CLT panels with a simple structural system. The pavilion's geometry is not formed by extensive cutting of the panels. Instead, the design employs six coordinated structural operations—tilt, rotate, lean, taper, shift, and cut—all unified through a single, repeated joint detail.

The structure comprises three principal asymmetrical planes that rotate around an imaginary axis. One of these main wooden masses leans ten degrees toward the audience, a design choice referencing the profile of nearby Mt. Ishizuchi, with support from slender steel rods. The arrangement of the planes also considers ceremonial sightlines and sun protection requirements.

Post-Event Repurposing as Regional School Furniture

The Onodatesho Pavilion’s temporary lifecycle forms a core part of its architectural strategy. Following the National Tree-Planting Festival, the main CLT panels are designed to be unbolted and repurposed. These substantial timber components will be integrated into the regional school network as custom furniture.

Furthermore, cut-offs from the primary CLT panels are not discarded; they are incorporated into secondary elements of the pavilion, such as the stage stairs.

This material reuse strategy was developed in collaboration with local carpenters, CLT manufacturers, and drafters, combining regional timber traditions with contemporary timber production methods, reflecting developments in local timber technology.

Implications for Asia's Timber and CLT Sourcing

This project demonstrates a practical application for large-format CLT panels (12 x 2.3 meters) in temporary construction within Japan, with a pre-planned end-of-life reuse strategy. For procurement directors and specifiers across Asia, this case study shows how material circularity can be integrated from the initial design phase.

Buyers sourcing timber or CLT for projects, particularly those with temporary installations or specific reuse requirements, can evaluate suppliers capable of producing or handling panels of these dimensions.

It also highlights the potential for local timber resources, such as Ehime cedar and cypress, to be combined with advanced manufacturing techniques like CLT production, offering a model for other Asian regions with similar material capabilities and sustainability goals.