The idea of the hotspot relates to how the new building will shape in its own way its functionality and image according to the different urban situations. Crossed by major axes, which connect via highways and railroads the old village and the modern commercial center, the area has a rich and attractive historical background. Our concept reflects both the future of Fukuoka and its tradition as a cultural and economic gateway to the rest of Asia.

Mejidori Avenue will generate interaction between pedestrians and the building will allow for a new experience called “Pedestrian friendly". Our proposal follows a double space strategy: on one hand, the relationship between the four levels (base of the building, shops, gardens and offices), and on the other – a substructure for an ecological artery, which winds through the building and shapes a new active green public space.

The building base forms a direct link to the street level from all sides. Using the potential of the peristyle, the columns create a visual connection between the street and the open space, thus allowing it to manage different interfaces. It features a walkway towards Mejidori, which transforms into a terrace on Inabacho Street, creating an open space at the corner of two streets, and alleviates the visual relationship with the other buildings on Route 10. It allows extension of the public space inside the building and to define homogeneity between the pedestrian level and the height of the building (76 m).

The focus of the architectural design lies on the façade. Our proposal has significant innovation potential with respect towards the contemporary monumental buildings.

The façade is fully glazed and the structure between Mejidori and Inabacho folds back to create open space. The latter is directly connected to the basement via a staircase, which allows natural light to penetrate the building. The ceiling, 12 meters high, the generosity of dimensions and the distribution system of natural light gives the interior a subtle feature.

The structure features a public space connected to the atrium, the spaces are organized around a void, which connects the atrium to the mall. The gardens offer an attractive and enjoyable environment where the visitors can, via escalators, reach the lobby, or go the underground levels of the shopping mall and access the subway. In addition, the office spaces feature high ceilings, views towards the atrium and more private areas, disguised behind sandblasted sheet glass.

The formal language of the project combines a new approach towards more adaptable working spaces, with increased collaborative and private areas. We strive for a new image of a flexible working environment and propose a common outdoor area for interaction every third level, whereby the biggest is located on the 9th floor. This space is conceived as a large garden surrounded by water, offering views towards the city, and enables the internal culture of the users acting as a communication forum.

The commercial spaces are placed on the first 3 levels of the building and remain connected around the vertical atrium of over 22.00 m high. From the atrium on the entrance level one oversees the small businesses on the street Inabacho Dori and the large central void provides natural light.

The façade uses fiberglass and brass and functions as a filter from the sun, giving the building sort of abstract, transparent materiality. The undulations of the fiberglass appear on its surface, depending on the light; sometimes honey yellow, sometimes white. The texture is crystalline, striped and almost transparent and the light has an easy access into the thickness of the fiber. In the sun, this matter becomes opalescent, translucent, and gives the impression of penetrating the walls.

In the second phase of the development, we propose a new volume to be placed south of the existing one. The gardens create a passageway and offer a dynamic shaping of the public spaces, making an interconnection between the two buildings, the park of Tenjin and Mejidori. This spatial concept optimizes the climate efficiency and offers an effective solution for the city life of Fukuoka.

The architecture of the project reflects the complexity of the layers of the material and the intangible. Within this framework, everything is superimposed, has a deep reading, and appears translucent, in reflection. With its geometric nature, this space expresses its monumentality and magnificence, and its conviviality, nuanced between transparency and light.

Client: Fukuoka Jisho Co.Ltd / Cost: € 75M excl. VAT / Surface: 63 722 m² / Schedule: 2015 / Team: DNA (Landscape)