{"id":75001,"date":"2023-10-11T11:14:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T09:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/projekt\/ykk-passivetown-kurobe\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:57:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:57:38","slug":"ykk-passivetown-kurobe","status":"publish","type":"projekt","link":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/project\/ykk-passivetown-kurobe\/","title":{"rendered":"YKK Passive Town, Kurobe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Timber Construction as a Balancing Act<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The tranquil coastal town of Kurobe unfolds across fertile alluvial plains, nestled between the striking peaks of the Hida Mountains and the Sea of Japan. Since the mid-1950s, this region has been shaped by YKK, a company that has evolved from the world\u2019s leading manufacturer of zippers into a diversified global enterprise. Through the establishment of workplaces, housing and educational facilities, as well as sustained cultural patronage, the place has developed into a vibrant community closely interwoven with the corporation\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Company owner Tadahiro Yoshida initiated the flagship project YKK Passive Town. This ambitious undertaking explores innovative forms of sustainable and energy-efficient living. Commissioned directly for the fifth building phase, HK Architekten were confronted with the challenging task of testing contemporary timber construction with a high degree of prefabrication under Japan\u2019s complex regulatory framework. Extremely stringent building codes, particularly regarding seismic resilience and fire protection, turned the endeavour into an architectural and structural balancing act. For the first time in a large-scale project, maximum prefabrication was combined with the use of local timber resources. The result is a compelling synthesis of regional rootedness, technical precision, and social responsibility, as fabrication in sheltered workshops provides employment opportunities even for elderly and vulnerable individuals within the construction sector.~<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Embedded in a diversely composed residents\u2019 park, the ensemble asserts a distinctive urban presence. The complex\u2019s profile is characterised by three freestanding apartment towers with square floor plans, standing six to seven storeys high. The design of the buildings follows the principles of hybrid timber construction, as a subtle homage to traditional Japanese architecture and craftsmanship. Above the ground floors, which are designated for infrastructure, central scissor stairs lead to compact apartments. In every unit, the timber structure of the composite ceilings remains visible, while floors are finished with slender boards of Sugi wood. Covered balconies offer views over verdant landscapes and the mountain silhouettes along the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A filigree passerelle links the residential buildings to the parking structure and communal facilities. Beyond providing sheltered access during frequent heavy rainfall, it creates spaces for encounter and serves as the venue for a monthly market offering regional products. A multipurpose hall serves as both a co-working space and an event location with a kitchen. The furniture was designed by HK Architekten and crafted from trees that had to be removed for the new buildings on the site. The organically shaped community pavilion, known as the \u201cStube\u201d, forms the architectural and social heart of the complex. It provides an inspiring space that facilitates neighbourhood activities such as yoga sessions or concerts, fostering a lived sense of togetherness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A central challenge in the structural and tectonic conception was deploying\u00a0 timber as the primary load-bearing material in high-rise buildings, even under restrictive planning parameters. The residential towers rest upon expansive foundations in which massive stairwells are anchored. Due to the oceanic climate in Kurobe, it was crucial to use a rapid, weather-protected construction method. Storey by storey, fa\u00e7ade elements with integrated windows were installed between prefabricated wooden supports, followed by precast concrete beams and timber\u2013concrete composite ceilings. This method enabled a rainproof bottom-up assembly and reduced the on-site construction time by more than half compared to conventional practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In comparison with Europe, the complex regulatory environment required highly elaborate detailing and component configuration. In the event of fire, the ceilings structurally rely solely on the concrete layer, the timber columns are rated for 120 minutes of resistance, and the spread of flames is prevented by precast concrete elements and metal-clad parapets. Despite these measures, wood remains the defining material that is visible and tangible throughout the project. The fa\u00e7ade elements are clad with rough-sawn formwork and protected by natural resin coatings in muted tones. Specially developed and self-produced timber-aluminium sliding windows by YKK mark the company\u2019s first steps in this discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The development also establishes new standards for energy-efficient living. Highly insulated building envelopes, compact volumes, and targeted summer cooling strategies create comfort with minimal energy demand. Decentralised air-source heat pumps provide climate control and are supported by photovoltaic systems. On the ground floor of one residential tower, a power-to-gas plant converts surplus solar electricity into hydrogen, which secures the energy supply in winter. The emissions of this zero- or plus-energy structure amount to only one-fifth of those of standard buildings. In addition, the hybrid construction reduces CO\u2082 emissions by up to 50% over the entire life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The insights and experiences gained from the project demonstrate that combining innovative timber construction with maximum prefabrication and the use of local resources opens up promising prospects for the further development of multi-storey timber buildings in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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Timber Construction as a Balancing Act The tranquil coastal town of Kurobe unfolds across fertile alluvial plains, nestled between the striking peaks of the Hida Mountains and the Sea of Japan. Since the mid-1950s, this region has been shaped by YKK, a company that has evolved from the world\u2019s leading manufacturer of zippers into a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":90021,"template":"","tags":[],"publik":[1021],"projekt-art":[1017],"projekt-land":[1029],"projekt-status":[979],"projekt-kategorie":[944,932],"projektphase":[],"class_list":["post-75001","projekt","type-projekt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","publik-project-description","projekt-art-new-building","projekt-land-japan-en","projekt-status-completed","projekt-kategorie-multi-family-house","projekt-kategorie-living","projektkategorie-under-construction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt\/75001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/projekt"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"publik","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publik?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"projekt-art","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt-art?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"projekt-land","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt-land?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"projekt-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt-status?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"projekt-kategorie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt-kategorie?post=75001"},{"taxonomy":"projektphase","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hkarchitekten.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projektphase?post=75001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}