Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Mori Tower Development, Japan Mixed Use Building, Japanese Architecture

Roppongi Hills : Tokyo Architecture

Japanese Mixed Use Development – by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)

30 Apr 2013

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower

Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Roppongi Hills Tokyo

New York, NY – April 29, 2013 – International architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) is pleased to have participated in the 10th anniversary celebration of Roppongi Hills on April 25th, 2013. Developed by Mori Building Co., Ltd. and constituting Japan’s most important urban-renewal scheme since the postwar era, Roppongi Hills is a 28-acre development at the heart of the Tokyo, which has become one of the most influential mixed-use developments in the world and a model for the future.

photo : H.G. Esch

The U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Mr. John V. Roos, gave the opening remarks at the anniversary event, congratulating Mori Building Company and offering thanks to the late Mr. Mori for being one step ahead and giving Tokyo a “remarkable example of how modern design can enrich city life.” He commented, “In the 10 years since Mr. Mori realized this vision of designing Vertical Garden City that offer housing, office and retail spaces, complemented by parks, his Roppongi Hills complex has transformed this area into Tokyo’s most coveted business center.”

photo : Chang Kim

According to KPF Managing Principal Paul Katz, “We worked on Roppongi Hills for 14 years, and it helped form a great part of our ideas on urbanism. The collaboration with Mr. Mori was unique, and this celebration was touched with the sadness of his passing a year ago. But all can agree that his contribution to Tokyo is unparalleled.”

A hub for new cultural creation and information dissemination where people from around the world gather in an atmosphere of intercultural exchange, this complex represents a reformation of the concept of urban functionality in Japan, and stands as a model of a global city in the 21st century.

photo : Mori Building Ltd

420 million people have visited the complex since its opening in 2003, and the art museum alone drew 12 million visitors in the same period. On average, 100,000 people visit the complex each weekday, while 130,000 visit each weekend day.

Equipped with cutting-edge ultra-high-speed information network facilities, the ultra-skyscraper, the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, is built according to a comprehensive earthquake resistant design and offers state-of-the-art security functions. The facilities proved especially valuable and resilient during the recent Great East Japan Earthquake, when many people fled to this complex for safety and shelter.

Soon to join Lenovo Group Ltd., Google Inc., and Baidu, Apple Inc. is moving in at Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Other fast-growing technology companies are also flocking to the tower, demonstrating the innovative and forward-thinking flexibility and enduring appeal of Mori Tower and of Mr. Mori’s entire Roppongi Hills development. The complex also houses the 380-room Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel and over 200 shops and restaurants.

Roppongi Hills Mori Tower images / information from KPF

KPF architects

Location: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, Japan