Fukuoka-based construction company Shouei Kensetsu has started a new business that uses Fukuoka’s own Mino cedars to renovate old wooden condos. Operating under the brand name Doop, it is the first company in Kyushu to undertake renovations using domestic wood. Mino cedars grow in the Mino Mountains near Ukiha, and according to the company “they are soft, so you won’t get tired standing in the kitchen and the aroma is refreshing.” With domestic wood usage hovering around a low 26%, Shouei Kensetsu decided to launch the new brand to contribute to the local community. The company purchased seven 30-year old condos in Chuo-ku and Minami-ku and turned them from 3LDK into 2LDK spaces. Renovations included flooring and doors made from Mino cedars, and customers can also order tables and TV stands made from the wood. Prices for the refurbished condos are about 30% cheaper than newer condos in the area. The percentage of households living in condos in Fukuoka is 29%, which is on par with Tokyo, and Shoei Kensetsu expects demand for its new service to increase as the number of old condos grows. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 9/6
