KAJIMA CORPORATION | Annual Report 2007

The setting for the Toranomon Towers is atop a quiet bluff in Toranomon 4-chome, set back from major roadways while near to the center of Japanese government in Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki. The project consists of a 23-story, 112-meter office tower, and a 41-story, 153-meter residential tower. The development has drawn a lot of attention for the way it maximizes the potential of the urban setting, combining convenient access to transportation with pleasant surroundings.

A Historic and Venerable Location

The area around Toranomon Towers offers extremely convenient access served by three subway lines. It is also near the Hotel Okura Tokyo and numerous other prestigious hotels, encompassed by a quiet and leafy neighborhood containing the embassies of the United States, Spain, and other countries. During the Edo Period, the area was the site of several mansions of daimyo (feudal lords), and since the Meiji Period has been known as a venerable area lined with the homes of the aristocratic and wealthy.

Kajima acquired its corner of this area in 1970. The focal point for the plan was to develop in a way that maximized its potential while retaining the traditional aspects of the area. Ultimately, Kajima decided to pursue the project as the sole developer, and over the stretch of 35 years has formed the plan for this development in a prime location in Tokyo in association and cooperation with landowners and others in the area.

The residence tower has won praise for the genuine and orthodox style of its design as well as the high quality of materials used in the pursuit of authenticity, and a result, we successfully sold all of these high-end units. The office tower is an open design with a tenant-oriented concept that includes an interior emphasizing security and an open floor plan that creates a space appropriate to the area and valued by foreign companies.

An Oasis in the City

This project is one of the government's land readjustment projects and the first in Minato Ward, Tokyo. The roads in the area have been widened from 6–10 meters to 9–12 meters. A general urban residential design has also been incorporated in the project, with approximately 60% of the area left as open space and easing restrictions on the floor space ratio for the area. This will create an expansive exterior space in the surrounding area.

The finalist in the 2006 KAJIMA SCULPTURE COMPETITION

The old trees along the east side of the development have been preserved as much as possible, and the addition of new trees will create a new wooded area in the city. A sunken garden has been placed between the two towers, decorated with a sculpture from an up-and-coming artist (the finalist in the 2006 KAJIMA SCULPTURE COMPETITION), providing a place for quiet relaxation and reflection.

The Toranomon Towers project seeks to create a more comfortable urban environment while maintaining harmony with the surrounding area. The public space made possible the ample open areas will be an oasis in the city adored by both residents and office workers.

Projects undertaken by the real estate development division of a general contractor are able to utilize expertise from the planning stages through design and construction to create high-quality spaces underpinned by the latest technologies. Toranomon Towers is a representative work that brings together these efforts.