JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building Opens
“A multi-floor indoor garden of water and greenery” distills Kumamoto’s natural essence

April 23, 2021 marked the highly anticipated opening of JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building. The facility includes "Amu Plaza Kumamoto" and the hotel "THE BLOSSOM KUMAMOTO," both of which also debuted. With a design that embodies Kumamoto’s uniqueness, the building will serve as a symbol of the recovery from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, and bring vitality to the area around Kumamoto Station, where fresh urban development is underway.

JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building is the core facility of JR Kyushu's aim to create a city where people want to live, work, and visit. Floors 1 through 8 are home to Amu Plaza Kumamoto, which consists of retail stores, restaurants, a multiplex movie theater (7th floor), and a wedding hall (8th floor). The hotel occupies floors 9 through 12.
The square in front of Kumamoto Station, visible from the Shirakawa exit, was developed with the tutelage of Kumamoto City under a design concept that blurs the conventional boundaries between “train station” and “park.” Office and residence development is progressing in the area in front of the station, about 2.5 km away from the bustling city center.

The exterior of the building portrays the stacked, box-like layout of the Kumamoto Castle estate by dynamically shifting the large volumes of major functions and the roof facing the plaza. The design also harmonizes well with Kumamoto Station and other surrounding facilities.
A large roof juts out into the plaza, shielding harsh sunlight and welcoming visitors to the station building. The 15m x 30m Ohyane Terrace is above this roof structure. It is an aerial plaza ideal for children to relax and play, allows for events, and is equipped with a mist dispersal system and pop-up tents to alleviate heat. The famous Kato Shrine, dedicated to local hero Kiyomasa Kato, has been partially reconstructed here, creating a special connection for locals.

JR Kumamoto Railway Station Building is the product of biophilic design, which aims to improve human productivity and happiness by incorporating nature into the space design. The facility’s centerpiece is the “Boken no Mori” ("Adventure Garden"), a large indoor multi-floor garden of water and greenery that extends from the ground to the seventh floor. The atrium is stepped to allow natural light inside, while dozens of plants native to Japan are arranged in an environment optimized via digital simulation.

Water flow originates from a 9th floor hotel courtyard basin, which itself resembles a water source in nearby Aso. The water assumes the shape of a 10m x 10m waterfall from the third floor, descending to the ground floor. Inspired by the Nabegataki Falls in Minami-Oguni, it can also be viewed from behind. The vertical flow of water and greenery flowing throughout the building expresses Kumamoto’s nature as it unfurls from Aso to the Ariake Sea, creating a dynamic, airy public space that shows continuity with the station square.

Since few examples of large-scale indoor multi-floor gardens exist in the world to serve as reference, a diverse team was assembled within Nikken Sekkei for the project, including specialists in sound, light, landscape, temperature/humidity, and digital simulation. The resulting project was realized with a design unique to Kumamoto. It is our hope that the activities spawned in the garden will permeate the station square and create a lively atmosphere around the newly reborn Kumamoto Station.

Clients: Kyushu Railway Company, JR Kumamoto City Co., Ltd.
Site Area: 19,945.97 m2
Building Area: 13,869.09 m2
Total Floor Area: 86,292.46 m2
Structure / Number of Floors: steel reinforced concrete / 1 basement, 12 floors above ground
Building Height: 55.561 m
Construction: Obayashi Corporation
Lighting Design: Sirius Lighting Office
Signage Design: Nippon Design Center, Inc. Irobe Design Institute
Photo: SS　/ Harunori Noda (Gankohsha)