The entrance to co-creation that nurtures the forest “MORIMACHI Door” project

As a recent initiative of the Fairwood Project, we would like to introduce the "MORIMACHI Door" project.
Forestry and timber industry business operators on the “forest side” and space creators (designers, planners, clients) on the “town side” get to know each other’s backgrounds and connect deeply with each other. We will promote the co-creation of
It's a project. By increasing the use of timber that takes advantage of the value of domestic timber in creating spaces, we aim to reduce the cost of planting and growing trees and pass on healthy forests to the next generation. Friends and activities are expanding greatly.
 https://morimachi-door.kinohei.jp/

Launch of the MORIMACHI Door Project

I belong to the Social Good Strategy Office established this year. For a long time, I have been involved as a planner in various positions in the planning and development of projects and exhibitions such as museums. There was something I had been thinking about for a long time. Especially when I face a planned construction site on a scenic land, I feel that I should put something that I think should be realized at the cost of the trees that stand here and the lives of the creatures that live thanks to them. Are you working on...

Maybe it's because I really like the scenery of various creatures living naturally there, including things that you can't see or don't know. Of course, as long as it is a job, we create something to provide value to society by giving birth to something. It may not be possible to compare, but I had such a feeling as a simple feeling.

One of my long-cherished hopes was that "in today's Japan, using trees from artificial forests such as cedar and cypress will lead to the development of the next generation's forests." Mr. Taketoshi Sato of Weiss Weiss Co., Ltd. told us. If this is the case, it may be possible to create positive value for the environment in the process of work itself. What's more, proposing wood for each project itself is a way for the project team and the people involved to understand the relationship between trees, the forestry and timber industry, the environment, and our work. We will learn from each other and pass it on. I think everyone would be happy and energetic if they were like, "I have to go to the forest for work!"

Approximately 40% of the forest that occupies 66% of Japan's land area is artificial forest (cedar, cypress, etc.). They are overwhelmingly around the age of 50, which is said to be "just the right time to use". On the other hand, in order to create a sustainable forest cycle, it is ideal for each forest age to have an equal volume. In order to nurture the forests of the future, there is a need to actively use the trees that are about to be harvested at a high value, return the value to the forest owners, and connect it to the next cultivation and reforestation. increase.
*The figure is excerpted from "MOKU LOVE DESIGN, a book on wooden space design approaches" (published by The Norinchukin Bank Wood Solution Network)

Therefore, we started activities to raise awareness about the use of timber, but there were two questions in doing so. First, what is necessary for creators to take an interest in trees and take a step toward using wood? What gave me a hint was the story of a pioneer of wooden space design. When I asked about it, I learned that in the process of making, there are exchanges of designs, materials, technical ideas, etc. with masters of forests and trees. I also visit sawmills and woodworking factories and consult with them while looking at the actual wood. In addition, there was some kind of personal experience with forests, trees, and lumber in the background, which seemed to be the driving force behind his exploration.

Another question is, is it okay to proceed with the simple understanding that “use of trees such as cedar and cypress leads to the development of forests”? That's what it means. If you realize that you are working with a shallow understanding, you may end up with the opposite effect. Here too, I thought it was important to create a situation in which people involved in the forestry and timber industry on the “forest side” and creators and business owners on the “town side” could get to know each other. That way, we can share and think about the goals and challenges for nurturing the next generation's forests, and we can quickly notice if the situation changes.

We believe that creating a situation where the forest side and the town side know each other, even if it seems to be a steady process, will be a steady step towards sustainable timber use that expands along with the growth of each and every one of us's imagination and creativity. With this in mind, we have been conducting study tours to visit nearby timber production areas together with our creators, client companies, and cooperating companies. A total of about 100 people participated, and I was amazed at how the way they looked at trees changed along with their excitement.

Last year, when I wanted to connect more creators to many regions and increase the use of wood even by one, the sudden corona disaster caused various jobs to be put on hold. Under such circumstances MORIMACHI the desire to do as much as possible now overlaps with the intention of the National Federation of Lumber Associations, which promotes the use of domestic timber in the non-housing sector. project was born.

Creating a co-creative drama to nurture the next generation of forests

This is the main content that was implemented and produced in the space design that nurtures the forest "MORIMACHI Door".

① Production area experience events for designers, planners, business owners, etc. (Tama, Owase, Hanno)
② Documentary video of production area experience meeting
③ 3D virtual tour content
④ Survey of needs for people on the forest side/town side
⑤ Consideration of space design that makes use of wood with high value
⑥ Introduction of coordinators who connect forests and towns
⑦ Online seminar where forest side / town side talks
⑧ “MORIMACHI Door” website for disseminating the project

The first step of the project is to create an “experience of learning about the background of wood” that will serve as a starting point for awareness and behavioral change. It started with a production area experience meeting for that purpose. With that as an opportunity, we promoted dialogue to foster a co-creative drama focused on nurturing the next generation of forests, and supported the movements and transmissions that emerged from that.

Let me give you an overview of each.

(1) Production area experience events for designers, planners, business owners, etc.
In the timber-producing regions of Tama, Owase, and Hanno, we followed the order in which trees transform from forests to woody spaces, and heard stories from people in the forestry industry, log markets, and lumber mills. At the end of the event, we held a dialogue in a woody space made from local wood. Participants (designers, planners, business owners, etc.) will share their findings, and we will receive comments and answers from people in the forestry and timber industries. By learning about the background of timber through this hands-on event, we created a foundation for thinking about what we can do to nurture the next generation of forests as a common theme for the forest side and the town side.

When creators come into contact with real wood and lumber, come up with designs from the materials and create uses for them, it leads to increasing the value of wood and using it without waste. In addition, we do not use the amount of space design such as interiors and furniture as much as architecture, but we create opportunities for users to experience the various good qualities of wood, such as directly touching wood and being surrounded by soft light and scent. increase.

② Documentary video of production area experience meeting

In order for many people to experience the production area together, we have put together a documentary video based on the "questions" found by the participants. I shot it without a scenario, aiming to capture what was happening as it was. When the first temporary assembly video was completed, the people in the production area gave us their impressions, saying, "We can tell you that we have been working hard! We can also talk about the SDGs. With this, we can do our best!" We, who have been involved in the planning and production, were relieved to be able to share our thoughts, and felt that we could help develop customers in the production area.

We hope that you will take a look and think about “space design that nurtures the forest” together.

MORIMACHI Production Area Experience Event Visit 01. Tokyo, Tama-grown lumber forestry area "The 'story' of wood in design"

MORIMACHI production area experience event Visit 02. Mie Prefecture Owase cypress forestry "What is the future created by design?"

MORIMACHI Producing Area Experience Visit 03. Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture Nishikawazai Forestry Area “What does 'good wood' mean to us?”

③ 3D virtual tour content
This is a “virtual production area experience” content that allows you to visit the forest at any time, even with a smartphone in the palm of your hand. Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, Nishikawa lumber production area "Inoue Forest" was shot with Matterport and BLK360. By clicking on the icon, you can see various explanations related to the forest, such as forestry operations, tree species, living things, and local things. Looking up at the explanation of pruning, and learning that the fern at your feet is an index plant for cedar, you can freely look around as if you were guided through the forest by forester Junji Inoue. You can take a stroll. It is also an attempt to explore the possibilities of DX for promoting the use of wood.
https://mpembed.com/show/?m=JHut6f1Fise&mpu=970&mpv=ver1.0

④ Survey of needs for people on the forest side/town side

What kind of changes will the production area experience event bring about in consciousness and behavior? We conducted a questionnaire survey on the changes in awareness and behavior of the 61 participants before, after, and about one month after the trial session, and reported the results.

For example, in a survey conducted one month later, more than half of the producers responded that their perceptions and awareness of creators (business developers and spatial designers) had changed, and more than 90% of the creators who participated said that they had changed their awareness of domestic timber.・The image has changed." Participants who learned about the background of forestry said, "I want them to know that wood is produced with a lot of time and effort," and "I told about 50 people about the forest cycle after the workshop." In many respects, such as "I want to use wood more as a finishing material," there was a resonance that made me think that it was the voice of the forest side. In addition, in the questionnaire before the trial session, half of the reasons for using domestic timber were "because it contributes to sustainable forest management" and "because it contributes to SDGs goals and is conscious of ESG". that's all. It seems that they are using it with the intention of social significance.

The difference between the forest side and the town side is conspicuous only in practical aspects such as price, delivery time, maintenance, and variations. This is an item that has a large impact on the actual decision to introduce. I felt that it was necessary to co-create It was a valuable document that allowed us to see the faces of the producers, the forest side, and the users, the city side, who rarely meet each other.
https://morimachi-door.kinohei.jp/voice-to-voice/02/index.html

⑤ Consideration of space design that makes use of wood with high value

The point where the thoughts of the forest side and the town side are in agreement, as seen from the needs survey. For example, the desire of the forest side to increase the yield of lumber, and the desire of the city side to come up with ideas from processes such as sawing. I believe that they will be a hint for "space design that makes the most of wood with high value." "Value the wood background", "utilize the whole piece", and "redesign from the process". We introduce the three perspectives extracted together with the designers who participated in the workshop, along with design examples that turned issues into value from that perspective.
https://morimachi-door.kinohei.jp/case-study/index.html#case1

An example of using standard-sized pillars as wall materials that are rich in expression by cutting and splitting them.
SEVEN GARDEN (7 garden Co., Ltd.)
Spatial design/design, production/construction: Amegami Co., Ltd.

⑥ Introduction of coordinators who connect forests and towns
We are introducing the coordinators of timber procurement and processing from the three regions we visited this time, who are important key persons for this project and who we can consult when we want to use domestic timber. We also publish interviews that show how you approach your work and your personality. In the questionnaire survey, there were many requests for "a comprehensive consultation point (person) for timber procurement and processing" as a necessary thing to promote the use of domestic timber. I think it is also important to find and introduce people who are practicing wood coordination that nurtures forests in various positions throughout the country.
https://morimachi-door.kinohei.jp/connect/index.html

⑦ Online seminar where forest side / town side talks
Finally, we held an online seminar as a step toward dialogue and co-creation, as well as an activity report. Talking about the attractiveness of domestic timber (cedar, cypress, etc.) and the possibility of spatial design beyond its high value utilization to forestry and timber industry operators, space designers, and timber coordinators who connect the two. Thank you.

In addition, we invited Mr. Yoji Shindo, Executive Creative Director of Shiseido Co., Ltd. from the skin care brand "BAUM", which has a philosophy of "coexistence of trees and people", and Shigechiyo Suzuki, Chairman of the Japan Space Design Association. We had a talk with him on the theme of creating a sustainable brand story. It was also an opportunity for the project members who have connected and cooperated through the "MORIMACHI Door" project across time and place, and the people who supported them, to meet together for the first time.

[Archive video link]

⑧ “MORIMACHI Door” website for disseminating the project
All these activities are posted on the "MORIMACHI Door" website. This initiative, which was co-created with many people, was like a drama itself that spreads out from encounters and dialogues between the forest side and the town side. For people on the forest side, it is a door where they can see the wood users, and for people on the town side, it is a door where they can meet the background of the wood and the people in the production area. And before we know it, we ourselves may have become a "MORIMACHI door" that connects the two. A real world like a picture book in everyday life. We hope that you will take the time to visit us and use it as an entrance to the forest in your heart.
https://morimachi-door.kinohei.jp/

What lies beyond the MORIMACHI Door

The space design “MORIMACHI Door” that nurtures the forest aims to produce one or two players who actually use wood, and to lead to the birth of as many wooden space examples as possible. Players are not only the designers who directly specify the wood, but also the planners who propose the concept, the product director who builds it, the sales and development staff who meet the customer for the first time, and the business entity who decides to introduce it. Etc., I think that there is a possibility that people in all positions will be like that. The “MORIMACHI Door” project itself was created in collaboration with a large number of professional creators who could be players.

Each person's conscious selection of trees to use corresponds to "12. Responsible production and consumption" in the SDGs, and also leads to the conservation of the forest environment in "15. Protect the richness of the land." Using trees as a gateway expands the framework of the imagination, and not only human society, but also the entire circulatory environment of the earth, including living things and non-living things, can be imagined at any time. If we can use our imagination and creativity to make the most of nature and people, society and the environment will become richer as work expands. Trees provide diverse values to everyone and make ecosystems sustainable. I think it will bring me back to the place and connect me to a sustainable future.

We are promoting this project with the feeling of borrowing the shoulders of the forests, trees, and people in the production areas so that we can become a sustainable society. Last but not least, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the NPO Sound Woods for teaching me the knowledge of wood utilization, the concept of a wood coordinator, and the existence of a reliable colleague, which were essential foundations for the realization of MORIMACHI Door. Thank you. While learning, one step at a time, I hope to gradually change the scenery that I see from where I am, together with people who share the same thoughts. Thank you for your continued support.