NIKKEN SEKKEI URBANISM

16/136

Grand Front Osaka | Osaka, Japan, 2013 Site Area: 4.79 hectares | BUA: 568,000 sqm | Height: 48 floors / 179 mKNOWLEDGE CAPITALNIKKEN SEKKEI URBANISMVIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS014 _ 015North of Osaka Station lies a 24 ha district which used to be occupied by a rail freight yard. Following railway company privatization reforms the area was designated as an “Urgent Urban Renewal Area” in 2002 and has since been the subject of an international competition for redevelopment planning and urban design.Grand Front Osaka, which opened in April 2013, is the first element in the redevelopment activities; the 7 ha site sits directly in front of Osaka Station and contains a mixed-use multi-building complex of retail, ofces, hotel and residences.Understanding the great importance of the site for the Kansai Metropolitan Region as well as its development potential within the city of Osaka, the government perused the idea to develop a hub for knowledge creation activities-Knowledge Capital.Knowledge Capital is implemented via multiple facilities that promote human interaction, industrial collaboration and exchange, with the objective of launching innovative projects and creating new values for the future of Osaka region. The core of Knowledge Capital is “Knowledge Plaza”, a 1,000 sqm, 37 m tall public atrium which connects to various other facilities like theaters, exhibition and conference rooms, and collaborative ofce spaces as well as event and activity areas.“Creation Walkway”, a 500m-long pedestrian axis which extends horizontally though the complex’s podiums, links Knowledge Plaza, and the commercial facilities, directly with Osaka Station. Pedestrian circulation also continues vertically and provides access to public roof gardens and terraces. Umekita Plaza is located in front of the station, providing a new entrance gesture to Osaka. The elliptical-shaped plaza with playful water features resembles Osaka’s character as water city and has since become a popular venue for events and festivals. Water features continue along the western edge of the site. Generous areas devoted to landscaping and pedestrian circulation along with a coherent façade design featuring colonnades provide a sense of the future when this street will become the main artery connecting to Osaka Station. Re-introducing spacious water features throughout the development has already shown positive effects-children enjoy playing in the shallow water during the hot summer months, young couples use the seating opportunities along the water bodies as dating spots during the twilight hours, and the silver generation welcomes places to take a short rest in between urban explorations.

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer10.2以上が必要です