Spatial Creation x FSC® Certification: A Future That Enriches Society and Communities

"Hamamatsu Castle" and "Hamamatsu Children's Museum" are projects that we worked on with Hamamatsu City, an SDGs future city that aims to create a virtuous cycle model for society, economy, and the environment. In addition to designing and constructing the space, NOMURA Co., Ltd. was in charge of acquiring and supporting the acquisition of FSC® Project Certification*, the world's first forest certification system.

Hamamatsu Castle

Hamamatsu Children's Museum

Through the project, the members realized that acquiring forest certification through the creation of spaces will produce positive effects on society and the region. Goro Kato, the Fairwood project leader, asked the three members about their background and thoughts.

"Hamamatsu Castle" and "Hamamatsu Children's Museum" project members (three from the left)
Akinobu Takahashi (PD | Product Director)
Haruka Tashiro (PM | Project Manager)
Atsushi Suzuki (D | Design Director)
Fairwood project leader (right)
Goro Kato

Why did NOMURA Co., Ltd. acquire international forest certification?

Kato
This project, "Hamamatsu Castle" and "Hamamatsu Children's Museum," has acquired FSC® project certification, which is said to be the world's highest standard for forest certification. This certification is intended for things that cannot be separated as a single "product", so I think it also has the meaning of "space" certification. As a space production company, we have a high affinity with this certification system, and we believe that it is a certification system that we should actively work on.

* Click here for project overview and certification system

Encounter with Hamamatsu City, a pioneering city promoting SDGs

－What made you decide to acquire FSC® project certification? (Kato)

Tashiro | PM
Hamamatsu City, the client of this project, is a city that is so active in promoting SDGs that the Cabinet Office has certified it as an “SDGs Future City”. clearly defined. Therefore, in this project as well, there was a specific request to "incorporate FSC® certified materials (hereinafter referred to as certified materials) into the space and obtain FSC® project certification as a facility."​

* Hamamatsu City SDGs Future City Plan (2021-2023)-p.12 "Expansion of use of Tenryu materials"

Suzuki｜D
As a premise, there is no specific designation of production area for certified materials used for FSC® project certification. However, this time, Hamamatsu City requested that local materials be used. Precisely because the facility is open to the community, we would like to firmly define and use “Tenryu wood”, a local material that is close to our lives, as a concept in the spatial design. I thought.

Tashiro | PM
From the beginning, there was no specification of where to use the certified materials, and the order was to "use as much as possible". The Hamamatsu Children's Museum was a large facility of over 3,000 square meters, so we consulted with the designer and product director about what we could do within the short construction period of one year and budget, and incorporated certified materials in accordance with the spatial design. .

Certificate of FSC® Project Certification

－I think it was the first time for a space creation company to obtain certification. How did you feel as a team? (Kato)

Tashiro | PM
At first, I didn't know what to do because it was my first time. I thought both. On the other hand, Hamamatsu City already has various know-how, and the forestry promotion section of Hamamatsu City kindly taught me how to proceed. Through the process, Hamamatsu City's attitude is based on the fact that certified and local materials are used in public facilities, so that children and citizens who visit the museum, as well as people who work in the forestry field, can give back. We touched that they had a strong desire to do so, and we wanted to respond to that. Most of all, I felt that the FSC® project certification system is a wonderful system in that the trees grown in our town are used in the public facilities of the town, and the traceability can be properly visualized.

Suzuki｜D
At first, I had only the feeling that "products with that mark seem to be good for the environment, so we should add them to the specifications."

I believe that obtaining FSC® project certification has two major effects. It is the perspective of industrial promotion that can help industry, and the perspective of global environmental protection that protects Japan's forests. It is also a strategy for keeping the economy going. The number of forestry workers is declining in every municipality, but obtaining certification and publicizing the results is a way for towns to use properly managed timber and pay for it, thereby increasing the value of timber. as a result, it leads to protecting the environment of workers.

Furthermore, by combining spatial design, the perspective of regional revitalization is added. By incorporating local materials, we will create a facility that is loved by the community by using the charm of the region. It will also lead to redefining the attractiveness of the region. What I felt there was, "Who else is going to do this project besides us? We have to do this, we have to do it from now on!"

Takahashi｜PD
I was motivated by Mr. Tashiro, the project manager, and he pulled me a lot. I feel that the whole team was managed in some way.

Motivated by social significance, even if it takes a little effort

－What was it like at the production site when you adopted certified materials? Was there anything that was more difficult than before? (Kato)

Takahashi｜PD
There was an increase in the work of recording and documenting the traceability of the process from procuring materials to transporting and installing them, but since I explained it to the subcontractors from the beginning, I was not particularly confused. Rather, by properly managing certified materials, all materials can be properly identified, which has led to the overall orderliness of the site.​

The call to obtain certification at the morning meeting also led to safety management, Each craftsman's motivation was improved by having an awareness that "my work is connected to protecting the forest and contributing to the global environment." I feel.

Also, just because we used certified materials, we weren't limited to partner companies. I was able to work with familiar partner companies, and this time I happened to have a partner company with experience in obtaining certification, so it was very helpful.

Tashiro | PM
Certainly, there will be additional work to get certified, but It is important to work with the awareness that "we can contribute to the future of the city 50 years from now, not just the immediate future!" and most of all It is an asset of our company that we are blessed with cooperating companies who share our thoughts with us. I felt it.

Filming and recording the process of purchasing materials one by one

Takahashi｜PD
Especially recently, the awareness of our subcontractors has become very high. I feel that the fact that we have formed a cooperative system with NOMURA Co., Ltd., Ltd. for many years and that we have been able to build a relationship of trust has led to this promotion.

Where to use authentication materials is important. Message to visitors

－During the process of designing, was there anything unusual? In particular, I think it is difficult to use the certified cedar "Tenryu cedar"... (Kato)

Suzuki｜D
As a characteristic of cedar material, it is soft, but it also has warmth. I want to dare to use it where children touch it I thought. The problem is durability. Since it is not strong enough to be used on floors, it was somewhat expensive, but we made it into a compacted material so that it can withstand hard use for many years. Even if it is scratched, the traces are also attractive. I want to create a space where you can see various expressions I thought.

－Did you specify how much certified materials must be used? (Kato)

Suzuki｜D
There is no designation of where, the policy of why it was used there is the most important. It is important to use it where it has meaning, and it has to contain a message and be something that sticks in the hearts of visitors. We believe that it is necessary to nurture the spirit of cherishing forests and nature, and having an attachment to local materials through touching them.

​It is also important to be able to confidently tell their families about their experiences here, and for those children to tell their own children about it, so that it can be handed down to future generations. I think there is great value in creating a place for such communication.

Kato
Once again, through this process, there was an effect derived from the whole, including communication with cooperating companies and users.

Creating the future of society and local communities through the space x forest certification system

―Do you have an image of the future development and possibilities of the project? (Kato)

Tashiro | PM
This time, it was not just about creating a space, but it was very meaningful to be able to work together with Hamamatsu City to promote the SDGs. I think you taught me. The SDGs, which are set to be achieved by 2030, are global goals, so for local governments and private companies that are looking for ways to work on the SDGs, FSC is one of the ways to revitalize local communities and contribute to the SDGs through space creation. ® I think that communicating that there is also a method called project certification is a social contribution that our company, which receives consultations from all over the country, can do.

Suzuki｜D
As we are usually working on public facilities, especially exhibition spaces, I wonder if the certification itself will be one of the contents of the exhibition. I think. It is meaningful to tell not only children but also adults that a space that has acquired certification contributes greatly to society and is connected to the future. Exhibitions can tell stories, so I feel that conveying messages through space is of great significance.

I believe that the idea of ``cultivating forests'' like this one will become one of the cores of large-scale social education. It can also be connected to various fields such as nature, science, and history. I think it would be great if this could lead to connections between facilities, and expand to regional networks, nationwide networks, and so on.

Tashiro | PM
Certainly, when I visit public facilities around me, I don't really care about "Where did this wood come from?" Most of the time I don't know. However, if the certificate is displayed like Hamamatsu Children's Museum, it will be transmitted to adults first. Even if the child doesn't notice it on the spot, they may be taught later, or they may notice it when they grow up.

“Using wood grown in the city for public facilities in the city” sounds quite natural when you think about it, but for some reason this is not the case and traceability is a black box. Adults and children, who will inherit the next generation, wonder, "Why is it so difficult?" It may be a small step toward achieving a big goal.

Certificate of authentication displayed at the Hamamatsu Children's Museum

Takahashi｜PD
Recently, we sometimes see the FSC® certified mark. Not only furniture, but the other day I found it on the boardwalk in Oze. If you change your mind a little, I feel that your perspective has changed, with the perspective of contributing to the global environment. In particular, I think that children will leave an impression while touching from an early age.

Kato
When we talk about the use of wood, we tend to say, "Let's convey the goodness of wood," but it's also important to symbolically tell not only children but also adults what it should be like in the industrial cycle.

Tashiro | PM
At first glance, this FSC® project certification also seems to contribute only to one of the SDGs, "Enrich the land", but it actually leads to 14 goals. For example, goals such as “Decent work and economic growth” and “Responsible consumption and production.” Local governments like Hamamatsu City take the initiative in acquiring FSC® project certification, which leads to improvements in the working environment by giving back to local forestry operators. As a result, the number of forestry workers will increase and the forests will be managed properly. I don't think it's an easy story, but if we can play a small part in that big cycle, I feel very happy.

* FSC certification that contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Suzuki｜D
I also think that not only the global environment but also the circulation of people is important. As the forestry industry declines, the town will become depopulated and people will no longer live in it. A balance is important for the world to run smoothly. From a long-term perspective, I would like to convey to everyone that acquiring FSC® project certification through space creation will lead to a richer social structure and economy, and will lead to a more prosperous world. I want to go.

Tashiro | PM
I feel that now is the time to think about how to strike a balance between economic rationality and a sustainable society and ideas while running. What we can see in the end is a "space", but I realized that the procurement of materials and the creation of a system with cooperating companies up to that point is also an important process of design. I would like to continue exploring and practicing by making use of the experience of this FSC® project certification. First of all, I am deeply grateful to Hamamatsu City for giving me that notice!

Kato
It seems that the change and awareness of everyone's mind this time will be an epoch in the future. I think there will be more projects like this in the future. Thank you for today.

[Planning] Fairwood Project Members: Haruka Kitagawa, Satoko Yokota, Yukiko Okamura
[Author] Satoko Yokota
[Photography] Hideki Sato
[License code] FSC-P001847