Okura House

Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

OKURA HOUSE

TAISEI DESIGN Planners Architects & Engineers

CATEGORY
Buildings

LOCATION
Chuo City, Japan

AREA
7908 m²

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Nemetschek, Toto, Bunka Shutter, Fujisash, Matsuhita Sangyo, TAKAHASHI CURTAIN WALL CORPORATION, Toli Corporation

CLIENTS
CHUO BUILDING Company Limited

FACADE DESIGNER
Sylvain Dubuisson

DESIGN TEAM
TAISEI DESIGN PLANNERS ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, Sylvain Dubuisson

Text description provided by architect.

4th generation building in Ginza seeks for further advancement of tradition and innovation. This 4th generation “Okura House” dates back to the Meiji era.

Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

This building stands at the corner of Ginza 2-chome which is called the platinum corner and lined up with famous brands.

It is also the birthplace of Taisei Corporation.Amid a growing concern of a megaquake in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the old Okura House has metamorphosed into a high earthquake resistance building with advanced facilities to support BCP (Business Continuity Plan) of tenants.

Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The DNA of the 2nd building that survived the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 and air raids in the Second World War has been succeeded in DNA of this building.

Horizontal louvers and vertical louvers are installed on exterior facing Chuo/ Marronnier Dori and on elevator hall side respectively to control sunlight and reduce air-conditioning costs.

This building can strike a good balance between traditional townscape of Ginza and constant evolution.- Flexible façade showing a variety of features.

The 1st through 3rd floors are used for Cartier Ginza boutique, and its stone-and-metal exterior gives an impression of Cartier head office in Paris.

Above the 4th floor exterior is covered by wood-grain pattern frame having the shoji (paper sliding door) look, which produces completely different atmosphere in sun-lit daytime and illuminated nighttime.

Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

As a building housing the luxury brand, the “attachment skin” is applied to make façade flexible in anticipation of future exterior renovation.

Advanced vibration control device We have developed a space-saving ceiling damper which can reduce sways caused by earthquakes.

By installing those devices on joints between columns and beams in the ceiling, a high level of safety was achieved without affecting individual ownership spaces.

Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY


Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Okura House
© KOKYU MIWA ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY


Okura House
Elevation
Okura House
Detail
Okura House
Structure diagram


Okura House
Plan
Okura House
Site plan
Okura House
Diagram
Okura House
Section