Article source: Nikken Sekkei Ltd.

Concept & Objectives

This project was inspired by the paradoxical idea of improving the environment through the presence of large-scale architecture. The Project is an office building for Sony’s R&D department, which takes the form of a thin vertical plate to ensure good views. More importantly, the form minimizes the heat island effect by positioning its narrow sides against prevailing winds, thus allowing the breeze to flow in from Tokyo Bay without hindrance. The building was then conceived as a massive cooling devise that performs in much the same way as a natural forest.

Image Courtesy Yutaka Suzuki

• Architects: Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
• Project: The Sony Corporation’s building
• Location: Osaki, Japan
• WAF Entry: 2012
• Award: World Architecture Festival 2012 – Shortlisted
• Photograph by: Yutaka Suzuki
• Architects : Mr Tatsuya Hatori, Mr Yoshito Ishihara, Mr Norihisa Kawashima
• Client / Developer : Sony Corporation, Japan
• Environmental Engineers: Mr Osamu Nagase, Nikken Sekkei Ltd. Japan
• Structural Engineers : Toshihiko Kouno, Ms Miwa Sadamoto
• Supervision : Sony Facility Management Corporation, Japan

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