First Impression
This building is situated in an unnamed alley near one of Ginza’s main streets. The site had been abandoned for three years before this project began. The front edge is only 2.7 meters from the busy street, enclosed by tall buildings that form a wall-like boundary. When you look upward from inside the site, you see a perfect “L” shaped sky. This unique location and narrow shape inspired us to create a design that guides visitors from one alleyway to another. The feeling of movement and the importance of natural light were key influences in the design process.
Concept
Ginza is known for its transparent building facades and fashionable designs, but hidden among its streets are countless alleys filled with bulky, nondescript buildings. Our chosen site is one such alleyway. Amidst the crowded urban fabric, we aimed to create an iconic structure — a building that would stand out and invite people to look up to it like a clock tower.
Layout
Faced with limited space, we maximized the building’s footprint and height. The structure is divided into two parts: a larger volume at the rear and a slimmer section at the front that connects to the alley. A compact glass staircase cleverly links these two volumes of different heights in the center. This staircase acts as a naturally illuminated core, visible from every room, and can serve as an exhibition space for various users. Thanks to its independence, it can also function as a standalone exhibition area.
▲ General layout plan
▲ Model diagram
Technical Solution
Early in the design process, we decided against using steel structures and opted for plain concrete instead. This choice was due to unstable ground conditions and the complexity of constructing an “L”-shaped building. Given the foundation’s limitations, the building needed to be as lightweight as possible. To achieve this, the walls feature large openings that evenly distribute the structural load. These large openings in the narrow entrance halls also enhance the sense of spaciousness within the alleys. The steel and glass staircase acts as a connector between the two concrete volumes, keeping them structurally independent.
Due to the building’s slim and tall proportions and Japan’s seismic activity, the front section is stabilized by a 1.2-meter-thick matte floor slab. This, combined with a rooftop balcony enclosed by 2.4-meter-thick walls, subtly reinforces the slender form and results in a rare 1:7 height-to-width ratio (as studied by BIM).
Stroll
Located in Ginza, as you transition from one gray alley to another, your gaze naturally follows the rising lights upward. You look through the skylight toward the sky until the surrounding buildings fall behind you and you reach the summit.
▲ Model diagram
▲ Horizontal section
▲ Longitudinal section
Project Information
Design Company: SO& CO.
Location: Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
Category: Retail Architecture
Lead Architect: So Teruuchi
Design Team: Masafumi Koyama, Kohshi Higaki
Building Area: 111.0 m²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Takumi Ota
Consultant: Style Labo
Structural Engineer: Frameworks
Engineer: Hezeraf
Construction: DoubleBox
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