Photography: Kokyu Miwa Architectural Photography

The building is located a 5-minute walk away from Shibuya Station, in an area that has both lively and calm sides with mixed commercial/business functions and residences. As the biggest project in Shibuya City, the design needed to make full use of the scarce space in the heart of Tokyo, where an elementary school once stood, and combine more than 10 facilities into one location, thereby maximizing the potential of the area.
The concept of "complex integration of facilities = fluent coexistence of human activities" is materialized by the clear-cut 3-layer sectional composition according to the functions of the facility and a common lobby connected to the center of the building.
While capitalizing on a variety of specialized areas, the building provides a space with playfulness where visitors can find new discoveries one after another whenever they drop in.
The design employs a simple and reliable facility plan, while retaining an expansive open space by making use of the elevation difference of the hilly area it stands on, to provide a place of recreation and relaxation that connects the facility and the community and becoming a valuable asset for the citizens.
The first-class auditoriums and the planetarium dome on the top floor, equipped with advanced vibration control, sound insulation, and a newly developed air-conditioning system using floor diffusers and ventilation seats, and the art installations and lively expressions found throughout the facility all provide opportunities to participate in cultural activities.