THINKPARK 2007 / TOKYO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Green Urbanism
>
With a recent surge in construction of urban monoliths such as Roppongi Hills, Shiodome, Osaki Gate City, and to a lesser extent, Shinagawa City, Tokyo’s attempts to emerge from the doldrums of a post-bubble economy have left the city less exciting and more banal. In the shadow of this ever increasing emptiness, the World Trade Center of Japan has developed the last remaining large open site in Tokyo.
>
Located across from the Osaki Station, itself part of the central Yamanote Line, the site is 2.08 hectares (5.146 acres) with bridge connections to a new 31 story office tower designed by Nikken Sekkei. Below the tower, NMDA provided concept design services for a large park/plaza and 5,000 sq meters of shopping. Nikken Sekkei detailed and executed the concept of the shopping pathways. NMDA's plan for the park was not executed.
>
The plan organization of the shopping and park zones is based on a smooth flow of traffic from the station, through the tower, to the residential neighborhoods behind. The soft forms are a counterpoint to the basic geometry of the tower and further helps brand the complex as Tokyo's first building based on "Green Urbanism". ThinkPark, a concept developed by the Brand Architect Group of Tokyo, attempts to merge the WTC’s interest in current and future technologies with sustainable design techniques. Green roof technology and integrated gardens creates an atmosphere for nature and technology to come together. “Design” is the mediator.
>
