An urban commercial facility in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo. Drawing from elements of the neighborhood identity, like the greenway and unique storefronts, this outdoor mall-style building features a “a hill with greenway” that can become a foundation for urban life.
Urban planning regulations on shading and open space were channeled into the hill, which weaves the commercial facility into the surrounding urban fabric. All storefronts are designed to open onto the greenway, elevating the value of the tenant spaces compared to conventional commercial buildings. Lease lines, signage, and lighting bleed into the hill area, giving this public space a unique feeling that is made possible by commercial programs.
Visiting the “a hill with greenway” after its completion, I was happy to see that it was functioning like a local street corner—a couple looking down at the city, parents and children lying down to look up at the sky, and a woman perched on the bench at an intersection, waiting on someone. Soon after the completion, butterflies and dragonflies came to the open “field” at the end of the hill. As an architect, I quietly hope that this field will become a part of childhood landscape for those not interested in shopping.