| ●Brief description of project |
The people of Kansai may have met the imposing Grand Front Osaka, a new creation in the bustling Umeda shopping and entertainmentdistrict of Osaka Kita, with a sense of astonishment - as if they had witnessed an entire town suddenly descend from the sky. Although the land on which it was built on the north side of Osaka station had been used as a freight yard that supported the logistics of the city as a commercial hub for 130years, it was a relatively unfamiliar place for the general population of Osaka. This prime land in a blank space changed its name to Umekita and re-emerged as the site of a complex commercial facility with four skyscrapers. This was a project with the potential to transform the commercial sphere of Umeda and the flow of pedestrian traffic, and perhaps even the li festyle of the people of Osaka. Consequently, it was an extremely challenging design in terms of deciding on the approach to take in view of the enormous expectations of those who saw the project as a trump card in revitalizing the Kansai area.Viewed from Osaka station, four skyscrapers hem an open square, extending straight into the background, but only the South Building, located on the station side, comes into the view of commuters and travelers who get off at the station. An issue we had to consider was how to give expression to this gigantic complex centering on the Knowledge Plaza, an intelligent creative center standing unassumingly in the background, so that it would be loved by the people who live in this city. After lengthy discussions, we settled on a number of conditions. As the face of a mature international city, the complex should have an identity and dignity that places it in a league with other competing Asian cities. It should place importance on the global environment. The culture and civilization developed and nurtured in the region should be in healthy balance. And the design should be one that inspires a feeling of hope in people for future urban life. The vision for the city should be an open city that is acceptable to all generations living there. As a result of these various aspirations, a multitude of ideas was incorporated into the design including, among others, a square where visitors can enjoy a sense of unity with the surroundings including the architecture, water features, greenery, urban corridors, connecting atriums, air-intake, and wishbone. Adhering to the notion of a concept that would be easy to understand, we aimed for a simple design. The result is a design that children can easily draw, a design that is easy for all people to understand, a design that adults will view and accept with a feeling of satisfaction, and, at the same time, a design that is beautiful and sexy.
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