Umeda Sky Building

The Template:Nihongo is a two-tower mixed-use skyscraper in Osaka, Japan. Located on the outskirts of the Umeda business district in Kita-ku, Osaka, the Umeda Sky Building consists of two 40-story towers interconnected at their two uppermost stories via glass bridges with escalators and elevators that cross an open atrium space.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is currently the fifteenth-tallest building in the prefecture.<ref>List of tallest structures in Osaka Prefecture</ref>

The towers reach a total height of Template:Convert while the overall height of the tower including the spires is Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The towers were designed by Hiroshi Hara,<ref name=architect_deal_with_it/> and were constructed by Takenaka Corporation<ref name="Shin Umeda City/Umeda Sky Building">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They were completed in 1993.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

The building was conceived in 1988 as the "City of Air" project for a mixed-use skyscraper with four interconnected towers in the Umeda central business district, in close proximity to the Yodo River. The third tower of the complex was initially planned to be constructed within the current site of the Vegetable Garden, while the fourth tower was to be located on the eastern side of the third tower. Eventually, the Japan economic bubble of the 1980s caused widespread damage to the Japanese economy and brought the total number of towers down to two.<ref name="Dramatic Architecture and Views at Osaka's Umeda Sky Building">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During the architectural planning of the complex, Hiroshi Hara created two overall concepts for the towers. The first concept was to create a modern landmark in the city featuring modern architecture, and drew inspiration from the Grande Arche in Paris, France, which features a hypercube-like design. The second concept was to emphasize a vision of a "floating city", which can be reflected from the city's urban landscape and is contrasted with the opaque ceramic atrium at the ground floor. The concept also included open-air amenities and viewing decks over the Umeda district and the entire Osaka skyline.<ref name="✅ Umeda sky building - Data, Photos & Plans">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Construction started with the construction of the twin towers using reinforced concrete, while the construction of the sky deck began afterwards. As the structural works of the towers were completed, the sky deck was raised to the ground using a set of hydraulic elevators to raise the section upwards, the first time this was done in a construction project. The installation of the glass-layered escalators and elevators also followed the same system. The tower was fully completed and began opening its doors to the public on March 25, 1993.<ref name="Shin Umeda City/Umeda Sky Building"/>

Location

The two-tower skyscrapers sits within the Shin-Umeda City, a Template:Convert mixed-use area that includes The Westin Osaka, and the Shin Umeda City General Information Center.<ref name="Shin Umeda City General Information Center">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Shin-Umeda City">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is also located near key transport hubs such as the Ōsaka Station and the Umeda Station, both of which are among the busiest railway stations in the world.<ref name="Japanese Train Stations - Japan By The Numbers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Features

The building primarily highlights the rooftop Kuchu Teien Observatory, also known as the Floating Garden Observatory.<ref name="Umeda Sky Building">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The two-floor observatory features Café Sky 40 and the Fence of Vows.<ref name="Dramatic Architecture and Views at Osaka's Umeda Sky Building">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The tower also has an underground market that attempts to recreate the atmosphere of Osaka in the early 20th century.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The base of the towers contains the Island Garden, and the Vegetable Garden, with walking trails and water features.<ref name="Shin Umeda City General Information Center"/>

Ownership

The building was mainly owned by Toshiba Corporation through Toshiba Building Co., but in July 2008, Toshiba sold a majority stake (65%) in Toshiba Building to Nomura Real Estate Co. Toshiba retains 35% ownership.<ref>Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc. and Toshiba Corporation to Establish Alliance in Real Estate Business through Sale of Majority Ownership of Toshiba Building Co., Ltd.</ref>

Tenants

Sekisui House is the owner and developer of the complex, and the main tenant of the tower, which contains the company's headquarters. Mazda has an office in the Umeda Sky Building Tower East.<ref>"Offices Template:Webarchive." Mazda. Retrieved on October 29, 2009.</ref> The German consulate-general is located on the thirty-fifth floor of the Umeda Sky Building Tower East.<ref>"List of Consulates in Kansai Area Template:Webarchive." Creation Core Higashi Osaka. Retrieved on January 15, 2009.</ref> AstraZeneca have their Japanese and Asia-Pacific headquarters in the East Tower.Template:Citation needed PlatinumGames is also located in the building.<ref>"Inside Platinum Games: we chart the history and future of the studio behind Bayonetta." Retrieved on October 19, 2014.</ref>

Gallery

• Umeda Sky Building, Osaka, November 2016 -01.jpg

  View looking up

• Umeda Sky Building, Osaka, November 2016 -02.jpg

  The escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space

• Osaka - Night View.jpg

  Night view from Umeda Sky Building

• Osaka Dusk Skyline.png

  Dusk view from Umeda Sky Building

• JAP Osaka Sky Building.jpg

  The view of the three towers within the Shin-Umeda City complex, the Westin Umeda and the Umeda Sky Building

• Umeda Sky Building (5225807716).jpg

  A view of the glass-layered escalator crossings from the Sky Deck

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Osaka

External links

• Umeda Sky Building, Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co.
• Outline of Shin Umeda City, Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co.
• Umeda Sky Building, Takenaka Corporation
• Umeda Sky Building, Japan Guide