Hisao & Hiroko Taki Square marks the entrance of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, serving as both a welcoming gateway to campus life and a vibrant hub for student activities. Most of the buildings within Hiroko Taki Square are built underground, with only verdant “hills” visible above ground. This design allows the square to blend naturally with the surrounding landscape while preserving an unobstructed view of the campus’s iconic Bell Tower from the entrance.
The roof of the “small hill” is designed with terraced greenery and seating areas, complementing the green sloped walls of the adjacent library. Together, these two buildings form a lush green valley. This newly created green space, dubbed the “Green Valley,” introduces vibrant outdoor activities and breathes fresh life into the campus environment.
The stepped landscape on the rooftop rises gradually, extending seamlessly into the interior spaces, effectively blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors. This design enables public learning sessions and joint seminars to take place simultaneously across different floors. Furthermore, the absence of clear spatial divisions between buildings within Hiroko Taki Square enhances visitors’ visual and tactile experiences, fostering a more immersive environment.
Facing numerous site complexities, the architect established the “hill” roof shape early in the design process. The stepped landscape fans out along this hill form, creating a fluid architectural flow that integrates harmoniously with the campus, resembling a river delta at the entrance. The building also reveals its “twisted” structural framework supporting the roof, which introduces a dynamic indoor spatial fluidity. As a result, the interior and exterior landscapes naturally emerge, intertwine, and connect in a harmonious balance.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Structural Schematic Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Kengo Kuma & Associates Urban Design Firm
Area: 4,879 m²
Year Completed: 2020
Project Team: Junshu Natsumi, Qitai Watanabe, Haojie Tanaka, Yumeng Ye, Shimi Kaneko
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