Photographer: Masao Nishikawa
A place where the atmosphere is changing.
Sited in central Tokyo area, standing between the busy Street and the Ebisu-Park where children’s voices are echoed resonantly. The 10 story building, whose owner is the Salvation Army in Japan, is designed with the hope to lay the foundations for future development in this area, where the rebuilding of the offices has been continuing.
The design concept was providing a space where both the greenery environment from the park and the atmosphere of the busy street can be felt. The aim of the design is that the building is not closed and isolated but interacted with the surrounding environment.
The external wall facing on the main street is covered with plants in order that the pedestrians passing next to the building can feel the green from the park setting behind. Due to a shade regulation in this area, a huge void space is made accidently and it helps the building to be opened, connected and blended to the park.
Regarding the each floors, the hall on the ground floor, which enables users to have multipurpose activities, has a direct access to the park. The folding windows on the North and South direction let the space spread outwards.
The Chapel has an open ceiling throughout the 2nd to the 3rd floor. The aspect of the sun light is changing throughout the day with the top and side light. Winds blowing from the large terrace and the changing sunlight make people feel the sacred and warm atmosphere.
As for the office floors from on the 5th to the 10th floor, they have the same folding windows, as the ground floor, helping the spaces opened. The floors are made as empty space in order that the renter can install their original space freely. Deck plates on the terrace can be used as 400mm-height bench.