Tokyo Floats in Odaiba

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba 16 Weeks Comprehensive Architecture Studio A ARCHITECTURE 401 | Kazi Ashraf | Fall 2007

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba 16 Weeks Comprehensive Architecture Studio A ARCHITECTURE 401 | Kazi Ashraf | Fall 2007

Japan Site= 10,856 m²

Tokyo

Site Location: Odaiba, Tokyo Tokyo Bay

The urban transformation of Odaiba (お台場), a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo

Frankly speaking, there is nothing on the site. Other than a few industrial buildings, the island is a blank slate. The diagrams on the right illustrate this observation as the yellow rectangles denote the few buildings that are on the island The site is surrounded by water on all sides where boats currently dock and unload cargo

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba

A sloping green space will allow visitors and permanent residents to enjoy the outdoors and panoramic views of Tokyo Bay

Waterway and fishing ports that connects back to Tokyo Bay. An open atrium allows for natural ventilation and sunlight of spaces beneath the sloping green promenade

The center of the island will allow fishing boats to travel through the island via a water route. Docks next to the marketplace will enable boats to unload produce and other goods Located on the waterfront are the commercial spaces.

The bottom level will consist of markets and shops; above are offices and cubicles for travelers. The top cubicles will be projected out towards the sea for maximum views and natural light and ventilation. This projection will leave voids on the level beneath and will be used as boat docks

At the highest elevation of the green promenade will be clusters of cubicles for permanent residents. Taking on the idea of metabolism, these clusters will allow flexibility of living for these multi-family units

The main transportaton for the island is an light rail system, possibly a trolley system [black]. Below the elevated light rail is a direct network of roads [orange]

Hotel cubicles (protruding outwards towards the water) are interconnected with commecial and market space

Residential cubles for permanent residents are located at the highest point of the island. The idea of metabolism is applied as each unit is connected by a central core. This core also acts as a reinforcing structural element to hold up the man-made hill

Educational facilties and a research institution will be located across the commercial space.

Public services that include a hospital, police and fire departmet will also occupy this area

Bridges will connect commercial areas with the buildings and open spaces across

The commercial and market space occupies the ground level; adjacent to both ground and water transportation systems Fishing boats and other water transportation types will be able to travel through the island via a water route. Docks next to the marketplace will able boats to unload produce and other goods

Designing through physical models

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba

Sketching out the program for the island. The initial sketch indicates three primary zones: private (residential), public (commercial) and a shared zone with the central water channel. As the entire site is surrounded by water, both private and public zones will have their own access to Tokyo Bay

Unlike the private residential zones, which are clustered in the sky, the public commercial spaces are designed to merge the topography of earth and submerging part of the public zone into the sea

The residential clusters and community spaces are arranges on pilotis for numerous reasons.

Perching the units above the water gives privacy for residents and opens the ground plan for green space and future developments. The open space created directly below the residential clusters thus enables new activities to occur between land and sea. From afar, this majestic scene of metabolism architecture creates a new city skyline that percolates the sky

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba

The existing building is to be reused as a train station. An elongated skin shelters the existing building while creating additional area for new programs, that include a parking structure, retail and restaurants, and an indoor park. The perforatied skin will either be open, or covered in clear or opaque glass depending on the program located within.

A viewing pod at the end of the elevated residential promenade looks outwards into Tokyo Bay and future reclaimed land developments

Residential clusters mimic Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower.

An elevated promenade connects residents to the train station.

Structural stems will connect the different levels of the “Tube” and act as conduits for vertical circulation and utility networks

The “Tube” will be a large mixed-use civic building containing an indoor winter garden on the top level; the middle levels will house a concert hall, a museum, shops and restaurants; and an aquarium on the lower level where the “Tube” will be submerged in Tokyo Bay

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba

Winter (closed) garden during the colder seasons Summer (open) garden The dark green patch indicates a forest grove to demarcate between the public and private zones.

Several existing buildings are kept but upgraded to maintain original operations

Perforated black box to house marine research institution. A docking zone for marine research vessels below

The light green patches demarcate the vast amount of open park space aligning the water promenade Recreation will include baseball and soccer fields, and tennis courts, among others

The central cut-out will allow Tokyo Bay to flow through the articial island, enabling water recreation sports to occur and for water vessels to enter

In the lowest level of the “Tube,� a unique aquarium experience will submerge visitors into Tokyo Bay

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba

Residential clusters mimic Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower - a mixeduse residential and office tower. The housing clusters seem to be perched on stilts above the water

Due to the wavy design of the topography, residents are able to park their water vessels directly beneath their housing units

Civic spaces such as schools and grocery stores are placed in-between the residential clusters to provide services and goods to residents.

Translucent material evokes the semiprivate spaces

Various perforation studies for designing the building envelopes The “Tube” building is proposed in concrete, translucent concrete, glass, and steel material to highlight the island’s history as an industrial port

Elliptical

Floral

Circle

A connecting bridge links the public and private zones of the island. However, visitors will only be able to access the park-space in the private (residential) zone as the private spaces are elevated

Physical model was hand-cut and assembled using basswood, bamboo, translucent corrugated cardboard, white perforated plastic, green construction paper, wires, baby’s breath and markers

TOKYO FLOATS in Odaiba