One of the largest redevelopments in Tokyo’s history is underway.
The project, known as OH-1 (it is located in Tokyo’s Ohtemachi business district), will consist of two high-rise buildings with 360,000 sm (3.88 million sf) of total floor space, and a landscaped public open space. The redevelopment, which covers 20,900 sm, will be adjacent to the Imperial Palace East Gardens.
OH-1’s mixed-use programming includes office space, a luxury hotel, retail, and cultural facilities. It is scheduled for completion in 2020.
The project, whose construction began on May 18, was initiated by the developer Mitsui Fudosan, and will provide a new corporate headquarters for Mitsui & Co., one of Japan’s largest trading companies. The developer and the project’s design architect, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), have worked together before on big projects, including the 2.6-hectare (280,000-sf) Nihonbashi 2 Chrome Redevelopment, which also includes two office towers with combined floor space of 201,456 sm, and is scheduled for completion in 2018.
SOM’s design for OH-1, says the company, sets out to balance tradition and innovation. The 160-meter-tall, 31-story Tower A, which faces the Imperial Palace, is the lower of the two high rises, and harmonizes with surrounding buildings. The use of glass and granite cladding is “inspired” by traditional Japanese woodworking techniques.
Tower B, at 39 stories (five below ground) and 200 meters tall, is clad in glass and steel, a nod to the contemporary Japan and the Tokyo skyline in which this building will be embedded.
Both towers will facilitate natural ventilation and strive toward energy efficiency.
“Our design bridges Tokyo’s past and future—honoring the historical and cultural significance of its site, and … signaling Japan’s status at the forefront of technology and innovation,” said Mustafa Abadan, SOM’s Design Partner, in a prepared statement.
OH-1's two towers differ in their scale, massing, and materiality. Image: courtesy SOM / © Methanoia
The 6,000-sm public space, which will be constructed on the western edge of the site after the buildings are completed, will be landscaped with native trees, and include a reflecting pool and a plaza for outdoor events, as well as a multipurpose hall overlooking the park and plaza.
The park’s design preserves and enhances the setting of the historic cultural monument Masakado’s Shrine, honoring the 10th-century samurai Taira no Masakado, who led a rebellion against Kyoto’s central government. The park also will have direct access to Tokyo’s public transit system.
According to Mitsui, OH-1’s design is being supervised by a joint venture of Nikken Sekkei Ltd. and Kajima Corporation. The project’s GC is Kajima Corporation.
Related Stories
| Dec 27, 2014
'Core-first' construction technique cuts costs, saves time on NYC high-rise project
When Plaza Construction first introduced the concept of "core first" in managing the construction of a major office building, the procedure of pouring concrete prior to erecting a steel frame had never been done in New York City.
| Dec 22, 2014
Studio Gang to design Chicago’s third-tallest skyscraper
The first U.S. real-estate investment by The Wanda Group, owned by China’s richest man, will be an 88-story, 1,148-ft-tall mixed-use tower designed by Jeanne Gang.
| Dec 18, 2014
11 new highs for tall buildings: CTBUH recaps the year's top moments in skyscraper construction
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat cherrypicked the top moments from 2014, including a record concrete pour, a cautionary note about high-rise development, and two men's daring feat.
| Dec 17, 2014
11 predictions for high-rise construction in 2015
In its annual forecast, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat predicts that 2015 will be the "Year of the Woodscraper," and that New York’s troubled B2 modular high-rise project will get back on track.
| Dec 16, 2014
'Wedding dress' tower to be tallest in Africa
The $1 billion tower will have 114 stories, alluding to the 114 chapters of the Koran.
| Dec 16, 2014
Architect Eli Attia sues Google over tall building technology
Attia and tech company Max Sound Corp. have brought a lawsuit against Google because of Flux, a Google X-developed startup launched in 2014. Flux creates software to design environmentally-friendly buildings in a cost-effective way.
| Dec 12, 2014
SOM names winner of One World Trade Center photo contest
Gerry Padden's winning photo offers a striking juxtaposition of the Brooklyn Bridge with the sparkling One World Trade Center tower.
| Dec 4, 2014
10 tallest buildings to be completed in 2015
This year has seen the completion of many signature tall buildings, including the One World Trade Center. CNN reports that 2015 promises to be another busy year for skyscraper construction across the globe.
High-rise Construction | Dec 1, 2014
ThyssenKrupp develops world’s first rope-free elevator system
ThyssenKrupp's latest offering, named MULTI, will allow several cabins in the same shaft to move vertically and horizontally.
| Nov 29, 2014
20 tallest towers that were never completed
Remember the Chicago Spire? What about Russia Tower? These are two of the tallest building projects that were started, but never completed, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The CTBUH Research team offers a roundup of the top 20 stalled skyscrapers across the globe.
