Nobuaki Miyashita · CLIENT: Garden Group
Urawa Garden Building is an office building in Urawa, Saitama, Japan. A through passage crosses the site and links the surrounding streets, recalling the former Nakaginza Seven shopping street. Open plazas along the passage give pedestrians and office workers places to meet. The facade carries floating glass cubes with varying transparency, so the appearance shifts with the daylight. Natural materials, greenery and art are used in the interior workspaces. Energy-efficient lighting and passive design strategies support comfort and sustainability.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Urawa Garden Building is an office structure centered around a "through passage" that connects the city and its people. It inherits the memory of the former "Nakaginza Seven" shopping street, integrating passageways and plazas to enhance urban flow. Floating glass cubes on the facade interact with the cityscape, symbolizing openness and transparency. Inside, greenery and art installations create a stimulating workspace that fosters creativity and interaction.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area: 1,854.21 square meters
Building area: 1,159.37 square meters
Total floor area: 10,967.32 square meters
Structure: S (CFT), RC, SRC
Number of floors: 1 basement, 10 above ground
Max height: 43.7 meters
Eaves height: 43.1 meters - Tags
- architecture, office, urban design, passage, glass facade, sustainability
- Production Technology
- The facade integrates glass panels with varying transparency, reflecting urban layers dynamically. Natural materials harmonize with the surroundings, creating a warm and inviting office space. An energy-efficient lighting scheme and passive design strategies enhance sustainability and comfort, ensuring an environmentally responsible and user-friendly work environment.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was balancing commercial functions with public accessibility. By strategically placing the through passage and open plazas, the project strengthened the connection between office spaces and the urban fabric. The floating glass cubes required innovative lightweight structures and varied transparency to seamlessly integrate the architecture with the cityscape.
- Project Duration
- The project is located in Urawa, Saitama, Japan, and was completed in February 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The through passage seamlessly connects the building to the city, allowing both office workers and pedestrians to interact fluidly. Open plazas enhance community engagement, providing diverse activity spaces. The glass cubes on the facade capture light dynamically, shifting appearances throughout the day and reinforcing the building’s urban presence.
- Research
- Type of Research: Urban architectural design
Objective: Exploring the potential of offices integrating commercial and public space
Methodology: Analysis of historical urban transitions, urban-scale simulations
Data Collection: Pedestrian movement observations, visual simulations
Results: Creation of an urban-office hybrid through passageways and plazas
Impact: Enhancing pedestrian networks and establishing a new urban icon - Inspiration
- The design draws inspiration from the site’s historical layers, reinterpreting Edo-period urban structures and the postwar vibrancy of local shopping streets. The building reconstructs past pedestrian flows, creating an open urban space. The floating glass cubes symbolize the lights and energy of the former market, establishing a new architectural landmark that bridges tradition and contemporary urban life.
- Image Credits
- Image #1,#2,#3,#4,#5: Photographer Nobuaki Miyashita, 2024
- Patents
- N/A
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