Omotesando Hills is a large shopping and residential development on Omotesando Avenue in Shibuya-ku, one of Tōkyō's top fashion streets. Designed by Architect Tadao Ando (Yumebutai), the development has come with some controversy: firstly, for turning its back on the Avenue and creating what its own developers describe as 'another Omotesando' within its interior. Secondly, the building replaced the Bauhaus-inspired Dōjunkai Aoyama Apartments built in 1927 after the 1923 Kantō earthquake. The destruction of the apartments raised questions about Tōkyō's interest in preserving historic buildings. A small section of the old apartments is reconstructed in the South-East part of the new complex. Inside, the mall descends several stories beneath ground, but maintains daylight from a glazed roof over the triangular atrium. The interior floors follow a spiral arrangement (in the shape of giant triangles) that compensate for the gradual slope of Omotesando Avenue. As one triangle is descended one story has been climbed, so if you start at the top you can wander around the whole center without using an escalator.
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i loved this place~ it seemed very artsy~
ReplyDeleteTadao Ando did an expert job on this I think, his style is quite recognizable and fresh. I agree, the mall did have a very posh and artsy feel and I especially liked the interactive lights and radar dish on the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteAndo Tadao also designed that new building coming up in Umeda called Chaska, you can see it from the Hankyu train (on the left) as you approach the Umeda station.
ReplyDeleteThanks I did not know about this building, I will keep my eyes out for it when I am next in Umeda!
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