Tokyo's New "Multifunctional City" Where People and Nature Co-exist in Harmony

The area around Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line used to be a valley-like terrain called Gazenbodani. The long and narrow plot stretching from east to west with a mix of high ground and valleys was once densely populated with small wooden houses and buildings. Those buildings were aging, and new urban infrastructure was needed. This is where Azabudai Hills was built after around 35 years of planning. "The concept is 'a plaza-like neighborhood surrounded by greenery that will bring people together.' It is a completely new type of neighborhood built around a plaza where people gather, surrounded by overwhelming greenery," says Watanabe. The total area of the plaza is around 6,000 square meters, with around 2.4 hectares of green space. Taking advantage of the hilly terrain, water flows through the neighborhood, and around 320 varieties of plants are spread throughout the site. Unlike the conventional way of planning buildings first and then greening the spaces in-between, Mori Building took a new approach of creating a seamless landscape with a plaza at the center before placing three high-rise towers.

"We believe that a city is a stage for people's various activities. An environment surrounded by overwhelming greenery in harmony with nature brings a more human way of living," says Watanabe. With the aim of building a "modern urban village" utilizing the uniquely rugged topography, a UK design studio led by Thomas Heatherwick was chosen to create Garden Plaza. "We asked Mr. Heatherwick to design the architecture and space of the lower level, which houses commercial facilities. The net-frame structure on the lower level is characterized by a wavy design throughout. As you walk up the hill, this structure gently connects the ground with the high-rise towers in the back. Mr. Heatherwick's signature design that organically connects a city and buildings resonated with our concept of a city as a stage for human activity, resulting in a unique architecture unlike anything we have seen before."

A rich variety of plants seamlessly connects human activities in the city. A certified arborist picked some 320 plant species from all over Japan, based on the existing vegetation in this area on the eastern edge of the Musashino Plateau. The original east-west alleyway with no outlet has been replaced with a street called Sakuraasa-dori, lined with ten kinds of trees. Ten varieties of cherry trees with different blooming times have also been planted throughout the area, making a stroll in springtime a delightful experience.

Azabudai Hills, with its three towers and lower-level buildings surrounding a plaza, is a "Vertical Garden City" packed with the appeal of Tokyo. Also, under the theme of "Green & Wellness," it has many features designed to help people live in harmony with nature, leading to a wholesome and healthy life both physically and mentally. For example, Hills House Azabudai, a members-only coworking space in Mori JP Tower, provides balanced meals for workers, while the Keio University Center for Preventive Medicine offers personalized medical checkups using the latest medical equipment. Both facilities help maintain a healthy body and mind.

Mori Building has contributed to the development of the culturally-rich Minato city area by creating world-class facilities in ARK Hills and Roppongi Hills such as the Suntory Hall concert venue and Mori Art Museum. At Azabudai Hills, too, art plays an important role in enhancing the neighborhood's attractiveness. "A neighborhood is at its freshest when it is first established. On the other hand, the multifaceted community resulting from human interaction becomes richer over time. Azabudai Hills has many public artworks and galleries throughout the complex. Artworks and exhibitions created by present-day artists taking inspiration from modern society will keep the neighborhood fresh and facilitate people to communicate with each other."

As for infrastructure, Azabudai Hills is 100% powered by renewable energy and promotes decarbonization and recycling. It also proactively tackles numerous issues facing modern society, such as protecting biodiversity, conserving energy, and extending healthy life expectancy. It will be exciting to see what possibilities this "Vertical Garden City" will open up in the next 50 to 100 years.

＊"Vertical Garden City" 
An urban concept envisioned by Mori Building. By consolidating land and creating a compact city through high-rise development, they aim to realize a new urban environment that solves many of the issues conventional cities face.

Video introducing Azabudai Hills released at the time of its opening.

Operating on the concept that envisions green urban development for the next 100 years, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is pushing initiatives to protect, increase and maintain, and cultivate Tokyo's greenery.
By promoting initiatives like the creation of greenery in city centers together with urban development, the efforts aim to transform Tokyo into a sustainable city that exists in harmony with nature.
https://www.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/policies/environment/0804_01.html