“Did you know that the Kabukiza Tower is not just an office building?” It is so much more. It’s a modern marvel rising above the Kabukiza Theatre in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
Let’s delve into the story of the Kabukiza Tower. The Kabukiza Theatre is dedicated to Kabuki. Kabuki is Japan’s traditional performing art. The Kabukiza Tower was built together with the Kabukiza Theater. This was made possible using the Urban Renewal Special District System.
The Kabukiza Theater maintains its original appearance. Its facade and interior were preserved. But the theater was updated with modern features. It includes Kobikicho Plaza. This plaza connects directly to the subway station. There are also commercial facilities. You can also find a community center and rooftop garden.
The Kabukiza Tower is constructed above the theater’s pillar-free space. This makes it a megastructure. It is like a bridge spanning across history and modernity. The Kabukiza Tower’s construction finished in 2013. It is located in Chuo Ward in Tokyo.
The Kabukiza Tower serves many purposes. It houses offices and public facilities. It is a center for culture and sports. The site area spans 6,995.85 square meters. The total floor area covers 93,530 square meters. The Kabukiza Tower has 29 floors above ground. It also has four floors below ground. The structure is made of steel above ground. It has an SRC structure below ground.
The Kabukiza Tower has received several awards. These include the 55th BCS Award in 2014. It also won the 2014 Japan Steel Construction Association Achievement Award. Another award was the 2014 Lighting Popularization Award. The Kabukiza Tower also received the 24th AACA Awards Special Award in 2014.
Kengo Kuma & Associates collaborated on the design. They worked with Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei, Inc. They focused on landscape design. The design concept was to create a “multi-cultural hub”. The theme was “garden and house as one”. It is a stroll-style garden. Visitors can experience the Kabukiza’s history. They can freely enter and view the garden.
The landscape design emphasizes views from each street. Harumi-dori Street represents the face of the Kabukiza Theater. Kobikicho-dori Street considers the neighborhood’s connection. Showa-dori Street represents the face of the offices.
An underground passageway connects the Kabukiza Tower to Higashi-Ginza Station. This connects to the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Toei Asakusa Line. It leads to the new No. 3 exit of Higashi-Ginza Station. Theatergoers can visit without getting wet in the rain. It also improves convenience for employees and subway users. It expands the underground pedestrian network. This helps ease congestion at the ticket gates. The interior design of Kobikicho Square creates unity. It connects the underground passageway and GINZA KABUKIZA.
In an emergency Kobikicho Square serves as a disaster prevention base. It directly connects to the subway station and underground passageway. This creates a disaster prevention network. The Kabukiza Theatre first opened in 1889. Over the years it was destroyed by fire, earthquake and wartime bombing. But each time it rose again.
The present building has steep tiers of traditional roofing. It features a dramatic red-and-gold frontage. Black-and-red banners soar like a temple. This stands in the modern heart of the Ginza shopping area.
The fifth Kabukiza was designed to be a symbol of Japan’s recovery from a terrible crisis. It deftly incorporates modern facilities and features. This ensures that it continues to flourish. The Kabukiza Tower is not just a building. It’s a vibrant hub connecting past and present. It is blending tradition with modern innovation. It is a place where new memories are made. These memories will be handed down to future generations.