Introducing Laurel: The New AI Assistant for Wood Utilization in Architecture and Design

Introducing Laurel: The AI Assistant for Wood Utilization

In a significant step towards sustainable building practices, Shin-Mirai Co., Ltd. from Tokyo, Japan, has officially launched Laurel, a specialized AI assistant for wood utilization in architecture and design, effective from August 26, 2026. The mission of the company aligns with the initiative of Sustainable Forest, aiming to revolutionize how wood is integrated into building designs. This intelligent assistant leverages a unique database to support professionals across architectural design, interior design, cost estimation, and construction management.

What is Laurel?

Laurel operates as a dedicated AI chat service, seamlessly linked to Shin-Mirai's proprietary SHIN-MIRAI DataBase (SHIN-MIRAI DB), which is an essential repository of information pertaining to the forest and wood industry. Project designers and architects can consult Laurel for discussions on project ideas, select appropriate wood types, and even explore procurement options, all tailored to the specific conditions of their projects.

Until now, designing with wood has demanded considerable effort in gathering data from various manufacturers' catalogs and verifying feasibility by contacting producers directly during business hours. This process often becomes a logistical nightmare, consuming significant time and labor. Furthermore, with the complexities of wood material risks and explaining comparisons to clients, these tasks have posed substantial barriers. Laurel tackles these challenges head-on, utilizing data and AI to streamline the selection and adoption of wood, paving the way for more wooden spaces in architecture.

Development Background of Laurel

The rise in demand for wood utilization in the construction industry is driven by environmental needs such as forest regeneration and carbon reduction. However, the lack of centralized and organized information on prices, delivery times, specifications, and certification has made it difficult to access data when necessary, serving as a bottleneck for the adoption of wood in projects.

To address this issue, Shin-Mirai developed the SHIN-MIRAI DB, which compiles and structures diverse information scattered across the forest, forestry, and wood distribution sectors into reusable data. The database contains over 6,000 standardized product data points, integrating previously disorganized information on certified timber and regional woods. It also organizes crucial information like reference prices and delivery times into a standardized format, allowing practical data to be utilized directly for comparison and selection.

Based on this database, Laurel's AI has been specifically designed to assist in wood-based architectural design, leveraging the expertise and insights gained from Shin-Mirai's extensive support for various projects. Users can efficiently interact with the AI by typing natural language questions, prompting it to search for relevant information and generate responses tailored to the user's inquiry.

Key Features of Laurel

1. Access to Unique Data

Unlike generic AI systems, Laurel refers to proprietary data collected through partnerships within the timber industry. This allows for precise and practical answers that generic chatbots cannot provide. For formal price inquiries, Laurel offers seamless requests for estimates without needing to contact manufacturers individually. This integration is a stark contrast to what traditional AI assistants can deliver.

2. Feasibility Assessment and Risk Documentation

Laurel does not only provide product data; it also references details about manufacturers’ facilities, technology, order production capabilities, and potential challenges or risks associated with wood processing. Users can easily explore the feasibility of their ideas and identify challenges through an interactive chat format.

3. One-Stop Solution from Product Search to Estimate Requests

With over 100 categories of organized product data, Laurel matches the most suitable materials and technologies according to the user’s project conditions and visions. It displays reference prices and delivery times in a user-friendly manner, allowing users to bookmark items for bulk estimate requests.

4. Support with Grants and Cultural Insights

In addition to materials and processing techniques, Laurel includes information on grants supporting wood utilization and insights into traditional regional wood applications and historical contexts. This diverse data not only aids in client proposals but encourages deeper connections with wood selection, fostering sustainable practices.

Usage Conditions and Fees

Users can access all functionalities of Laurel, from AI-driven wood information research to estimate requests and consultations with specialists, completely free of charge until they place wood orders. Laurel is primarily aimed at B2B professionals engaged in architectural design, space design, cost estimation, and construction management. Interested professionals can register for free to start utilizing the service immediately.

Partner Opportunities

Shin-Mirai is also inviting timber-related businesses to register their products and technologies within Laurel. By sharing company information, products, ordering capabilities, and case studies, these businesses can enhance AI's ability to appropriately match products with customer needs while ensuring the protection of confidential information.

Future Developments

The wood industry boasts diverse distribution and processing methods, many traditions of which have been passed down as tacit knowledge. However, within this information lies immense potential for new creativity and innovative applications. Shin-Mirai aims to visualize and structure previously overlooked information, unearthing the latent values of wood.

In addition to essential specifications like dimensions and properties, we will cherish the stories of individual logs' growth over 50 years, the culture of their origins, and the dedication of those involved in bringing products to market. By delivering this wealth of data and potential to users, we hope that choosing wood naturally aligns with the next steps in forest regeneration.

Future enhancements for Laurel include improved features for streamlined design practices, visualizing environmental impacts through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of used woods, and optimizing new supply chain concepts using the database.