Stretching towards the Tokyo sky, the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is no ordinary building. Let me tell you more about this unique structure. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower is home to three educational institutions. These are the Tokyo Mode Gakuen, HAL Tokyo, and Shuto Ikō.
Completed in 2008, the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower stands 204 meters tall. This makes it the second-tallest educational building in the world. Only Moscow State University is taller. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower has 50 stories.
The tower’s location is in the Nishi-Shinjuku district of Shinjuku, Tokyo. This area is known for its many skyscrapers. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower revitalizes the area. It acts as a gateway between Shinjuku Station and the central business district. Pedestrian passages around the building are open to the public. This allows for a better flow of people.
Tange Associates designed the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower. The design was chosen from over 150 proposals. The only condition was that the building could not be rectangular. Kenzo Tange said the cocoon shape symbolizes nurturing students. The elliptical shape and diagonal lines create the cocoon concept. The design inspires students to grow and transform. It feeds them with knowledge.
The floors of the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower are simple. Three rectangular classroom areas rotate 120 degrees around the inner core. This arrangement creates a curvilinear form from the 1st to the 50th floor. The inner core contains elevators, stairs, and shafts. The three schools occupy different levels. This helps avoid congestion.
The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower incorporates three atriums. These student lounges are three stories high. They face east, southwest, and northwest. These lounges provide comfortable spaces for students to relax and communicate.
The tower’s elliptical shape allows for more landscaping at the base. The narrow top allows for unobstructed views of the sky. Nature inspires the students. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower contributes to the urban landscape. Its design benefits the surroundings.
The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower won the 2008 Skyscraper of the Year award from Emporis. The building has a retractable roof. This roof can open in 8 minutes to create a helipad. The Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower also has a hanging gondola system for cleaning.
So, as you stand before the Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, remember its innovative design. It nurtures creativity and symbolizes transformation. It is more than just a building. It is a place where students grow.