Azabudai Hills (麻布台ヒルズ, Azabudai Hiruzu) is a complex of three skyscrapers in Tokyo, Japan. Upon its completion in 2023, the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower in the development became the tallest building in Tokyo and Japan.
The complex was developed by the Mori Building Company, the project cost about 640 billion yen ($5.3 billion).[3] Negotiations with landowners and residents on the site started in March 1989, and the redevelopment was authorised by the government in September 2017. The construction started in August 2019 and was completed in 2023. The architectural firm Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects won the contract for the exterior design of the skyscrapers, while Sou Fujimoto and Thomas Heatherwick were commissioned to design the interiors and the exteriors of the low-level structures, respectively.[4][3]
The tallest building of the complex, Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower
Tentatively known as the Toranomon-Azabudai District or Toranomon-Azabudai Project, its official name, "Azabudai Hills", was announced by Mori Building on 14 December 2022.[5]
Azabudai Hills consists of three buildings: Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower, Azabudai Hills Residence A and Azabudai Hills Residence B.[6] Mori JP Tower, measuring 325.2 metres (1,067 ft) and featuring 64 floors, was the first supertall to be built in Tokyo. Its appearance was designed to complement the nearby Ark Hills Sengokuyama Mori Tower, a project by the same architect and developer located 250 metres (820 ft) away. The two accompanying buildings, Residence A and Residence B, measure 237.2 and 262.8 metres (778 and 862 ft) in height and feature 54 and 64 floors.[7] The three skyscrapers were designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, the firm of Argentine architect César Pelli. Upon completion in 2023, the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower became the tallest building in Tokyo, surpassing the nearby Toranomon Hills Station Tower, as well as in Japan, surpassing Osaka's Abeno Harukas.[4][8]
The low-rise shopping buildings called the Garden Plaza
Accompanying the skyscrapers are a series of low-rise buildings that creates a landscape pergola, designed by London-based Heatherwick Studio.[9] The 8.1-hectare (20-acre) area is surrounded by lush greenery and features 24,000 m2 (260,000 sq ft) of green space, including a 6,000 m2 (65,000 sq ft) central square.[10][11] According to Mori, the design embodies the concept of a "modern urban village". Additionally, 9,000 m2 (97,000 sq ft) of cultural facilities will also be included.[12]
Usage
Azabudai Hills under construction in June 2022, with Toranomon Hills and Ark Hills on the left
The project has a total floor area of 861,700 m2 (9,275,000 sq ft),[3] including 213,900 m2 (2,302,000 sq ft) of office space and approximately 1,400 residential units.[12] The main building contains office space in lower and middle floors, while residential spaces will be located on the upper floors, from the 56th to the 65th floor.[13] Some media outlets have reported that the largest units of the residential floors in the main tower were sold for approximately 20 billion yen each.[14][15] The lower floors also include a supermarket and a multi-language child care facility, as well as an international school, The British School in Tokyo.[10][16] It is projected that the complex will house offices for about 20,000 workers and residences for about 3,500 people.[12]
See also
Central square and JP TowerSunset view of Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower from Tokyo Tower, Minato City, Tokyo, Japan (2023).
