Japan announces plans to build wooden skyscraper nearly as tall as the Empire State Building

The images of the plans for the building are mesmerising.

A Japanese company has announced that it will build the world's tallest wooden skyscraper. The project is set to be completed in 2041, to mark the 350th anniversary of  Sumitomo Forestry’s existence. The 70-storey W350 tower will be made up of 10% steel, combined with around 185,000 cubic metres of timber, costing an estimated 600 billion yen (or around £4 billion) in total. The building's 350-metre height means that it will be almost the same size as New York's Empire State Building, which has a roof height of 380m. For anybody wondering about the potential for fire hazards, worry not, the building will make use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), a building material that is designed to be fire resistant and unlike steel, remains structurally stable when subjected to high temperatures. It's great to see a company pushing the boundaries of what humanity can achieve. It would truly be a momentous to see it built.