Pazhou is a fundamental economic development zone in Guangzhou. Aedas Global Design Principal Ken Wai has designed the Haihao International Building, a 172-metre mixed-use skyscraper that will serve as an exemplary commercial live-work development in the city.
The project is in western Pazhou, adjacent to the district’s green axis and main roads. It has good access to the metro and public transport facilities. The area is governed by stringent urban planning design guidelines that ensure multi-level access connected to the basement and above ground via link bridges.
The design of the Haihao International Building is a celebration of Chinese landscape painting, with elements that emphasise ‘mountains, ridges, waterfalls, and paths’. This concept is reflected in the public stairs on the podium, linking a public footbridge and the roof of the podium garden to create a new public space for the city.
This gesture not only highlights the corporate social responsibility of the building owner, but also connects the building to its cultural roots. This public space will be used for recreational and educational purposes, further enriching the building’s cultural significance.
The rectangular building was designed with a high floor plan efficiency. The jagged outline of the façade defines its architectural character. Openable vents are integrated on each side of the curtain wall façade module to provide natural ventilation. This innovative design ensures a comfortable indoor environment and gives the tower a distinctive presence in the city, leaving a lasting impression on all who see it. The sustainable functionality of the building has won triple green building certifications, three-star green building, LEED and WELL.
The façade transforms into a mega-curved glass structure at the bottom of the building, where the entrance lobby and headquarters offices are situated. This design evokes the appearance of ‘falling water’, reflecting light and creating a distorted view of the surrounding cityscape.
The building includes retail and headquarters offices in the podium and offices and serviced apartments in the tower. Residents have separate entry points at the ground level and can enjoy a luxury private garden and clubhouse lobby halfway up the tower. Most apartment units are served by private lifts, with direct entry to individual units through a sky lobby.
Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts, renowned for celebrating national culture and stimulating the senses, is proud to announce the official opening of Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam. Nestled in the heart of Gangnam, one of Seoul’s most dynamic districts, the hotel offers a unique blend of timeless elegance and modern sophistication.
Formerly known as the Imperial Palace Seoul, a landmark of refinement and heritage since its establishment in 1989, this reimagined property honours Korea’s rich cultural traditions. This milestone marks an exciting chapter in Grand Mercure’s distinguished legacy.
The hotel caters to both short-term and long-stay guests through its thoughtfully designed dual-wing concept. The Hotel Wing features 224 opulent rooms and suites, including the magnificent Royal Suite. Each space has been carefully curated to reflect the spirit of Korean craftsmanship, enhanced with modern amenities for unparalleled comfort. The Serviced Residence Wing, offering 90 well-appointed apartments, is designed for long-term guests seeking the perfect balance of home-like convenience and premium service.
Dining is elevated to an art form at Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam with four distinct venues. Familia, the signature buffet restaurant, offers a wide array of curated dishes prepared by masterful chefs, while Cheonsan redefines Chinese fine dining with a harmonious blend of traditional and modern flavours. Delmar provides a chic setting for seasonal beverages and high tea, and The Bar presents a sophisticated retreat for unwinding with a carefully crafted selection of drinks in an inviting, intimate atmosphere.
The hotel’s facilities have been designed to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning travellers. The Club Imperial Lounge, inspired by a traditional Korean hanbok, offers an exclusive space for relaxation and business gatherings, infused with cultural authenticity. Wellness and rejuvenation take centre stage with a state-of-the-art fitness club, featuring an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and outdoor pool reminiscent of ancient Greek architecture. Business travellers are equally well-accommodated with a fully equipped business centre designed to support productivity in an elegant environment.
“Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam not only embodies heritage and local traditions but also caters to diverse guest needs through its combined hotel and serviced residence concept,” said Vincent Lelay, Vice President Operations of Accor Ambassador Korea.
“This opening underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in the premium segment – a key growth driver for Accor. With premium brands accounting for over 20 percent of the group’s global pipeline within the Premium, Midscale & Economy division, we remain focused on elevating our portfolio of hotels within this key segment.”
“Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam represents the very essence of what Grand Mercure stands for: a celebration of national culture and an invitation to embark on a journey of discovery,” said KL Kim, General Manager Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam. “With an array of facilities and differentiated services befitting the Grand Mercure brand, we are committed to delivering dignified relaxation and unique experiences rooted in Korean heritage. Our goal is to establish ourselves as a leading hotel in Seoul, creating lasting memories that connect travellers to the heart of the destination.”
Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts, with over 70 hotels in 10+ countries, continues to offer unique cultural sanctuaries that celebrate national heritage and provide immersive sensorial experiences. Guests staying at Grand Mercure Imperial Palace Seoul Gangnam will experience the hallmarks of the brand, with its emphasis on immersive cultural experiences that stimulate the senses. The hotel redefines hospitality in Gangnam, offering an extraordinary blend of culture, comfort, and elegance.
Pullman Hotels & Resorts, the flagship premium hotel brand of Accor, has created an innovative concept room to meet the blended needs of today’s travellers. ‘The Transforming Room’ is a high-spec, high-tech space designed to be a place to work, meet, socialise, work out, relax and sleep.
The Transforming Room is the culmination of two years of research on consumer behaviour, business traveller needs and design innovation. The brand will integrate insights from the concept room into the future transformation of Pullman, with flexible environments that cater to the dynamic needs of modern travellers.
With a visionary mindset rooted in serving the lifestyle needs of professionals, Pullman understands that the world is constantly evolving, and so too are how people travel, collaborate, ideate, and connect. Located in Pullman Singapore Orchard, the concept room serves as a pioneering showcase of the brand’s innovative spirit, allowing guests to experience firsthand the design and cutting-edge features that will shape the next generation of Pullman hotels. The Transforming Room is fully wired with thoughtful technologies and digital enhancements, enabling guests to adapt their personal environment with the touch of a button.
“Pullman is embracing the fluidity of contemporary lifestyles and championing a softer approach to productivity,” said Benoît Racle, Global Brand President, Premium at Accor. “And that’s precisely what the Transforming Room is designed to embrace. This innovative space seamlessly adjusts to the ever-changing needs of our guests throughout their stay, enabling them to effortlessly blend their needs in one space. Through cutting-edge design changes, the Transforming Room seamlessly transitions to cater to guests as they shift from work to wellness, socialising, or relaxation, ensuring a truly adaptive and enriching experience. The concept room is a model for the future of hospitality at Pullman, which aims to flex to serve the evolving needs of today’s traveller through curated and people-centric space and service design.”
From a stylist in town on business who needs space to meet with clients; to an entrepreneur, eager to explore the city, while having their own office space with room for morning yoga; to a local resident hosting an intimate dinner with friends – The Transforming Room is designed to adapt effortlessly, to be a space that inspires productivity, whatever the purpose.
Upon arriving in The Transforming Room at Pullman Singapore Orchard, guests scan a QR code to access the room’s high-tech controls. Providing an immersive guest experience through multi-sensory design, all functions of the room can be customised and adjusted by the guest using the app. Some of the features of The Transforming Room include:
Multipurpose workspace equipped with numerous outlets, clock, portable lamp, a drinking water tap, and vanity mirror
Privacy screen to separate the space from the other side of the room
LG innovative display technology for movies, fitness classes, room control feedback and presentations
Space-saving TECE toilet technology that combines a toilet and bidet
Bathroom mirror with adjustable mood lighting
Dornbracht shower technology for a customisable and therapeutic shower experience, catering for guests’ personal health and wellness needs
Murphy bed that enables the room to seamlessly transition from sleep mode to various multifunctional spaces such as a lounge, dining or meeting layout
COMPOZ parfum module that allows guests to create and schedule their preferred playlist of scents, according to their mood and activity
Synchronised lights and scents to create an ideal atmosphere
Various workout modes and virtual training programmes
Outside patio with greenery
In The Transforming Room, restorative sleep experiences are achieved through a multi-sensory journey that helps guests relax and fall into a deep slumber. At the end of the day, housekeeping lowers the custom-designed Murphy from its discreet storage wall. With a few swipes of the app, the video screen switches off; blackout curtains slide shut; and the COMPOZ parfum module engages a series of scents to create an atmosphere that influences and induces sleep.
Mornings in the Transforming Room offer a personalised multi-sensory wake-up experience. At the touch of a button, the curtains slide apart to fill the room with natural daylight, boosting the body’s serotonin production. Throughout the day, scents can be shifted to suit various moods or activities, and these playlists of scents are set using the room app.
“At Accor, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of design and technology to enhance the guest experience,” said Damien Perrot, Global Chief Design, Technical Services & Innovation Officer for Premium, Midscale & Economy Brands, Accor.
“The Transforming Room is a groundbreaking research initiative that allows us to observe and understand how guests interact within a multi-functional space. This insight is invaluable as we continue to innovate and create environments that adapt to the diverse and evolving needs of our guests, ensuring Pullman remains at the cutting edge of hospitality design.”
The Transforming Room prototype app also provides a variety of fitness and mindfulness sessions currently provided by PELOTON as well as Digital Art by ARTPOINT. The modular interiors easily shift to create extra space for wellness routines and workouts. The app is used to select personal wellness pursuits, guided by professional trainers, and displayed on the large in-room screen. In-room dining is brought to the next level. With the Murphy bed returned to its hidden home in the wall, there is space to create an intimate private dining experience – ideal for a special dinner date; a celebration among friends; or a working lunch for a team of busy creatives.
Led by Aedas Executive Director Kelvin Hu, Aedas created the Nansha Futures Industrial Park in Guangzhou, injecting new vitality into the city’s financial development.
‘The prosperity of finance and the natural ambience intertwine harmoniously, creating a unique charm,” said Hu.
The design takes inspiration from the landscape characters and echoes the city skyline to create timeless architecture that blends Chinese and modern aesthetics. The park captures Nansha’s unique features of “mountains, rivers, sea, fields, and cities”, creating a bespoke layout to optimise spatial planning. The design sets the grassroots space in a grid-like layout, creating natural ventilation and sightseeing corridors.
The east-west axis traverses the project and links different spatial nodes. Three office towers are positioned on the south side, with their height decreasing gradually from west to east. Low-rise buildings are arranged on the north side to foster a rich and open urban waterfront public space, simultaneously maximising the overall building’s views of the river and sea.
The design introduces an innovative spatial concept to balance public buildings and private space. Above 30 metres, it embraces modern, minimalistic elements, while below features a diverse array of Lingnan-inspired details. The design also includes themed scenes through connecting corridors, fostering a lively and vibrant public space.
The design emphasises the harmony between architectural art and urban context, injecting a large number of Lingnan traditional elements. Inspired by Lingnan rattan weaving, the courtyards along with the retail streets bloom with diverse flowers and lush plants, creating an urban oasis atmosphere. Spanning east to west, the financial streets seamlessly connect the entire design, providing a pathway to green spaces, effectively linking the project with ecological leisure and the surrounding urban areas.
“Architecture focuses on human-centric design solutions to integrate experience, blending experience with future trends and industrial development. The park fosters a vibrant community that melds industry, work and life, setting a pioneering standard for emerging industrial parks in Nansha and the GBA,” Kelvin said.
Mandala Club, Singapore’s private membership club community, has today announced that it has become the first conserved building in Singapore’s historic Chinatown district to receive approval from the Urban Development Authority (URA) of Singapore to install rooftop solar panels on the roof of its Singapore location. Slated for completion in the third quarter of 2024, this milestone sees Mandala Club becoming the first conserved building in Singapore to install rooftop solar panels, partnering with technology-driven renewable energy supplier Flo Energy for this latest development in Singapore’s urban landscape.
Owned by K. M. C. Holdings Pte Ltd, Mandala Club’s premises are located at 31 Bukit Pasoh Road, a three-storey Art Deco building constructed in 1928, which received the prestigious URA Architectural Heritage Awards in 2006. Marking a first in Singapore’s urban landscape, this latest development underscores Mandala Club’s commitment to sustainability and its role as a market leader in integrating energy conservation into its business operations and corporate blueprint.
Historic Milestone in Singapore’s Sustainability Landscape
With this latest development, Mandala Club has set a precedent for other businesses and owners of conserved buildings to emulate. The installation of photovoltaic panels at Mandala Club, slated to be completed by the third quarter of 2024, marks a pivotal step in maintaining Mandala Club’s net-zero carbon emissions status. This effort aligns with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 and the United Nation’s Race to Zero campaign, in which Mandala Club was the first hospitality business in Singapore to participate, through the SME Climate Hub.
“We are incredibly proud to lead the charge in sustainable innovation not only within the hospitality industry but also within heritage conservation areas,” said Lilly Milligan Gilbert, Chief Sustainability Officer of Mandala Club. “This achievement has been months in the making, and we are deeply appreciative that our application to install rooftop solar panels on the premises has been approved, in alignment with the Singapore Government’s efforts to promote sustainability.”
“As a technology-driven renewable energy supplier, we are proud to partner with Mandala Club in their journey to be the market leader towards a greener future. The climate crisis affects all of us, and we are heartened by Mandala Club’s efforts to make incremental, sustainable change by being the first conserved building in Chinatown to incorporate rooftop solar panels on their premises. We are excited to be part of this history and we hope to inspire future solar deployments on more conserved buildings,” said Matthijs Guichelaar, Chief Executive Officer of Flo Energy.
Launching the Mandala Solar Collective
In conjunction with the approval to install solar panels on the Club’s premises, Mandala Club is thrilled to introduce the Mandala Solar Collective, a business-to-business initiative that aims to assist local business owners in understanding the benefits and challenges of renewable energy adoption, as well as form a common knowledge share for best practices. Commencing in Q3 2024, the initiative will feature a series of roundtable discussions involving local businesses, designers, and partners, culminating in a flagship event in September 2024 to celebrate the successes of the project and share insights gleaned from the pioneering initiative.
“At Mandala Club, we aspire to be stewards of the neighbourhood and environment which we call home, and being at the forefront of sustainability is of paramount importance, not only to the Club’s leadership but more importantly, to our members,” said Ben Jones, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mandala Group. “This approval is a testament to Mandala Club’s commitment to sustainability and our dedication to enriching the lives of our members and working in tandem with the community to make a positive impact on the world around us.”
Sitting in the heart of Dubai’s financial district, Immersive Tower is the latest landmark by DIFC. The concept design, led by Aedas Global Design Principals Christine Lam and David Clayton, is a 37-storey mixed-use tower that offers commercial, amenity and retail spaces to cultivate an innovative business environment.
The tower adopts two symmetrical V-cut architectural forms, defining the uniqueness of the Dubai cityscape. The V-cut features stepping terraces and rooftop amenities with unparalleled views towards the Gate Building and Gate Avenue. The bottom V-cut creates iconic F&B and communal spaces filled with greenery at the podium which spans five floors. With the application of vertical fins, the verticality of the tower is further enhanced.
Immersive Tower offers a fusion of work, leisure and luxury and is designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses and their workforce. Offering over 58,573 square metres of Grade-A office space, and 24 full floors between the podium and rooftop terraces, the design delivers an elegant lobby to create a top-of-the-line working environment. The office space is supported by 10,596 square metres of retail space including a rooftop leisure club, and 680 square metres is allocated for amenities.
Christine shares, “A luxury private club with rooftop terraces are designed at the 3-storey tower crown, presenting the high-end corporate image and unique leisure experience brought by the tower.”
To maximise the accessibility to the existing developments within DIFC, the tower is designed with the provision to connect with the surroundings. The triple-height lobby and landscaped forecourt create a strong sense of arrival, stitching the tower to the community.
“Immersive Tower by DIFC is highly connected to the adjacent developments with functionality and efficiency, with a vibrant live-work environment embedded. It embodies a modern and people-centric design within a bustling financial district that complements the whole DIFC masterplan,” David says.
Gensler’s Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region triumphed in the inaugural Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards 2024, winning for its meticulously detailed ESG report, which highlights the firm’s commitment to sustainability and diversity.
Founded in 1965, Gensler is a global design and architecture firm that boasts a team of 6,000 professionals who collaborate with clients across more than 100 countries annually. Winning the ESG Initiative of the Year – Singapore award establishes a new industry standard for others to follow, showcasing Gensler’s leadership in integrating environmental, social, and governance principles into its business practices.
The annual report aims to quantify and communicate the specific actions and initiatives undertaken by Gensler, offering a holistic portrayal of the firm’s dedication and accomplishments spanning critical domains, including climate action, diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement. Amongst the activities included in Gensler’s previous reports is the meticulous measurement of its projects’ carbon footprint since 2009, demonstrating a long-standing dedication to environmental sustainability. It also reveals how Gensler has been publishing carbon mitigation progress publicly since 2015, spotlighting cutting-edge strategies for crafting sustainable, carbon-neutral structures.
In addition to its sustainable and green efforts, the report also highlighted Gensler’s social initiatives, particularly its Community Impact model. This model organises philanthropic and volunteer efforts through a focused strategy aimed at addressing major urban challenges. The firm empowers team members to leverage their professional expertise, fostering tangible, positive change in communities through pro bono and low bono initiatives. For instance, Gensler collaborated with the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to design their latest integrated centre, Space2Connect, as a pro bono project. Designers volunteered their time, skills, and passion for this project alongside their regular workload, demonstrating their commitment to being part of the solution and driving positive change. This proactive approach underscores Gensler’s steadfast commitment to nurturing a culture of community impact, serving as a model for others to emulate in striving for a more sustainable and equitable future.
These achievements have been made possible through Gensler’s guiding principles, which serve as the bedrock of the company’s organisational culture and provide the framework for its business model, strategies, and practices.
“Everything we do is guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design. Our governance model reflects our shared values, culture, and strategic priorities. The firm’s leadership is committed to principles that prioritise diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, empowerment, growth opportunities, and mutual respect,” said David Calkins, Regional Managing Principal of Gensler APME.
The Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards is a groundbreaking celebration of outstanding achievements in construction, architecture, and interior design across Asia, as well as recognition of innovation and sustainability in the industry.
RSP, a global multidisciplinary architectural and engineering design group headquartered in Singapore, has been recognised at the 12th Annual Architizer A+Awards with two big wins for Gaia and Changi Terminal 2 projects, beating world-class project submissions from over 80 countries.
Gaia, Asia’s largest timber building located at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and designed in partnership with Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects, received one of the top accolades of the Sustainability Awards as the Jury Winner in the Sustainable Institutional Building category. The Sustainability Awards recognises architecture and design firms who are actively working towards a more sustainable built environment, taking into consideration each project’s local characteristics, while rewarding projects that push the envelope and form a positive precedent for greener building practices in its specific region and the wider world.
“It is an honour for the whole team who had worked tirelessly with NTU on Gaia to win the hearts of the prestigious jury comprised of thought leaders from every continent. Gaia is a testament to our commitment to designing remarkable and radical spaces that are intelligent, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, efficient, and more thoughtful for users. I truly hope Gaia could inspire a future where architecture is a bridge between humanity and the natural world,” quips project leader Loh Kee Soon, Senior Associate at RSP.
Changi Terminal 2, designed in collaboration with Paris-based BOIFFILS Architectures, clinches the Popular Choice Winner award in the Transport Interiors category with its relaxing and organic space inspired by Singapore’s garden city.
“Receiving the Popular Choice Winner for Changi Terminal 2 is about so much more than winning a prize. In closer perspective, it is about successfully creating an impact on the millions of overseas users and designers who voted for this project,” shared Law Yoke Foong, Head of Business and Executive Director at RSP, who led the project.
“I have always loved working on airports as an architect, having completed Changi Terminal 1 Expansion, pockets of works in Terminals 3 and 4, and now Terminal 2. It is my mission to use design as a means to cushion passenger fatigue and disorientation by welcoming them into our garden city with relaxing and calming spaces.”
Architizer A+Awards spotlights the work of architects and designers who are not content with the status quo. This year’s theme celebrates creative courage, highlighting the extraordinary ability of architects to respond to clients’ changing needs, our growing climate crisis, and the rapid evolution of technology. The award programme received unprecedented submissions, which were reviewed by an illustrious international jury panel and the global public.
OXO Living, a boutique property development and management, proudly presents OXO The Residences, an ambitious IDR 500 billion (USD 31 million) venture set to rise in Bali’s picturesque Nyanyi area by late 2026. The project, conceived in partnership with renowned architect Alexis Dornier, will boast 40 exclusive neo-luxury villas sprawled across two hectares, complete with state-of-the-art communal amenities.
Reflecting OXO Living’s green credentials, the upcoming development will be equipped with solar panels, rainwater catchment areas, water treatment, osmosis water filters, and recycled or recyclable raw materials. Modern villas, ranging from 184 to 280 square metres, will be designed to appeal to a global clientele, with prices starting at IDR 7.5 billion (USD 500,000).
Located on the prime Balinese coastline in Tabanan, OXO The Residences is minutes from the central expat hub of Canggu, and from Tanah Lot with its many temples and cultural attractions. Also nearby is Nuanu City, a vibrant creative hub that champions thriveability on 44 hectares, offering a lifestyle where innovation converges with nature’s beauty. With a philosophy that nurtures creativity, fosters connections and promotes holistic well-being, the project is anticipated to be Bali’s next landmark destination, following the success of Canggu.
Johannes Weissenbaeck, Founder and CEO of OXO Living, said, “OXO The Residences is poised to redefine neo-luxury living in Bali. Our commitment to international standards ensures that our developments resonate with both local and global audiences. Residents of OXO The Residences will have exclusive access to the myriad of facilities that the nearby Nuanu City has to offer, enhancing their living experience.”
Indonesia’s Market Outlook
In a strategic pivot from its pre-pandemic focus on international clientele, OXO Living is now courting a predominantly domestic market with OXO The Residences, targeting an 80% local buyer base. This shift aligns with the robust growth of Indonesia’s residential property market, which Mordor Intelligence projects to expand from US$ 67 billion in 2023 to US$ 72 billion in 2024, and further to an estimated US$ 105.7 billion by 2029.
Research by Rumah123.com highlights that foreign property interests in Indonesia are primarily from Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, and Japan, with a preference for landed houses, land and apartments.
“Presently, Bali is undergoing a transformative shift in its property industry, fuelled by the emergence of the neo-luxury trend—a niche market that OXO Living is uniquely positioned to thrive in. Across all our completed OXO Living property projects, we’ve steadfastly embraced the principles of zero waste, solidifying our expertise in sustainable development.”
Elevating Comfort and Luxury to New Heights
Alexis Dornier, the visionary architect of OXO The Residences, shared his aspirations for the project. “Visually, our goal is to deliver a design that is both understated and emblematic. We aspire to create structures that harmonise with Bali’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, prioritising materials that are deeply rooted in the island’s identity and utilising local resources like the readily available bricks from Tabanan and the region’s distinctive volcanic stone.”
Dornier elaborates on the synergy between OXO Living and his design studio, “Our collaboration thrives on a shared commitment to sustainability. We believe in the ethos of ‘building less to create more value,’ ensuring our developments are in harmony with the environment.” This philosophy is the cornerstone of a partnership that seamlessly blends architectural innovation with ecological consciousness.
A new district in the heart of Tokyo designed by Heatherwick Studio has been opened by the Prime Minister of Japan. The project, known as Azabudai Hills, is the culmination of a thirty-year regeneration process steered by Mori Building Co. Ltd., one of Japan’s leading urban landscape developers.
The new neighbourhood is made up of residential buildings, retail spaces, a school, two temples, art galleries, offices and restaurants, all set within 2.4km2 of green, publicly accessible landscape. Heatherwick Studio is the lead architect of the public realm and podium-level architecture. The design encourages purposeful connections between commuters, residents and the public, and the 8.1-hectare district is filled with trees, flowers and water features. Meandering routes and walkable rooftop slopes invite exploration and informal gatherings.
Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio, said, “We were inspired to create a district that connects with people’s emotions in a different way. By combining cultural and social facilities with an extraordinary three-dimensional, explorable, landscape, it’s been possible to offer visitors and the local community somewhere to connect with each other and enjoy open green public spaces. This is a joyful and unique public place for Tokyo, designed to be cherished for many years.”
Tokyo is a juxtaposition of old and new architecture, with large and small buildings pressed up against each other. The design celebrates this rich mixture of layers and all the variety and intensity of the city. Residents and visitors can come together and be inspired by a new landscape that includes extensive public gardens, a central square and The Cloud event space. It is now one of Tokyo’s greenest urban areas and continues Mori Building Company’s commitment to creating garden cities where the landscape simultaneously supports nature and people.
Throughout the 30-year regeneration of this site, Mori Building Co. collaborated with over 300 residents and businesses to bring the district to life. Over 90% of the original tenants and businesses have now chosen to return to the new district. Azabudai Hills is also on track to become one of the world’s largest sites to receive the preliminary WELL certification, the highest-level LEED Neighbourhood Development certification for mixed-use developments, and LEED’s BD+C (Building Design/Core and Shell Development) certification.
As part of the development, Heatherwick Studio has designed its first school, The British School of Tokyo. At 15,000 sqm, this is the largest international school in the heart of the city. The design takes full advantage of the local climate with a seamless flow of outdoor learning and recreational spaces spread across eight levels, where students and teachers can enjoy working.
Neil Hubbard, partner and Group Leader at Heatherwick Studio said, “Over the last 10 years, we have tried to get under the skin of what makes something distinctively Tokyo, whilst at the same time adding something new that’s fresh and soft to its modern built environment. We wanted to create vistas full of variety and intrigue and spaces to explore. It’s a confluence of different families of design all brought together in one place. I can’t wait to watch people explore it.”
An estimated 25 to 30 million people will visit this new public district every year.
