Japan Welcomes ‘Vertical Garden City’ As Its Tallest Residential Skyscraper
Residents in Tokyo have been treated to a spectacle in the sky. Not only is the Toranomon Hills Tower the capital’s tallest building to date, but it is now flanked by two new skyscrapers too.
The trio is collectively dubbed ‘Toranomon’, with the taller of the two new towers officially being recognized as the country’s tallest residential skyscraper. It embodies a “vertical garden city,” as described by its architects, with lush greenery adorning its façade.
Standing at a height of 721 feet, the residential structure comprises 54 floors housing 550 units, ranging from 365 sq ft studio apartments to 1,202 sq ft two-bedroom homes. Homeowners will share a spa, a swimming pool, guestrooms, a fitness center, and a childcare facility.
Its commercial counterpart measures 606 feet, and will provide workers 36 stories of office space.
According to Ingenhoven Architects, the minds behind the project, the three skyscrapers are connected at the first above-ground level via a “green plateau,” which will be open to the public. Pedestrians can saunter through the trail, stopping by cafés, restaurants, and even a coworking space.
If the weather’s good, there are benches along the path that invitingly call on visitors to linger in the area, make use of the exercise equipment, or enjoy the tranquility of the fountains, in what the architects refer to as “a place of balance with zones of calm.”
With a focus on nature, the buildings’ exterior pay homage to the parks and gardens of the historic Atago Shrine, a ShintÅ place of worship that dates all the way back to 1603.
Aesthetics aside, the structures are designed to be earthquake- and typhoon-proof, drawing from ancient temple buildings’ methods of passively dampening seismic vibrations.
Furthermore, care was taken to choose different types of plants to adorn the building’s protruding decks. For example, trees and shrubs were used up to the second floor, with shorter plants then chosen for the higher levels.
The firm said that the plants were selected based on elevation and wind exposure at different stories, topping off the office building with a rooftop garden that boasts numerous tall trees.
In total, greenery takes up nearly 84,000 sq ft of the buildings, with a green replacement rate of 64.5%—leading to the project being awarded a CASBEE ’S’ rating, the highest level of sustainability within the classification.
While the structures are set to be towered over by the upcoming Toranomon-Azabudai Project Building A, which will take its place as the country’s tallest skyscraper, there’s no doubt residents and employees will enjoy this garden city for years to come.
[via New Atlas and Ingenhoven Architects, images via Ingenhoven Architects]
