Shizuoka Shimbun Tower and Office Renovation – Tokyo, Japan

The Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center is a building located in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, very close to Shimbashi Station. Built in 1967, it is considered to be the first realization of Kenzo Tange’s Metabolist movement, which called for a new urban typology that could self-perpetuate in an organic, “metabolic” way. It was built on a 2,030 sq ft triangular site, and erected around a column 25 ft in diameter, which forms the building’s central core, and around which thirteen individual offices are connected asymmetrically. The building was meant to be a prototype for a perpetually regenerating, prefabricated urban megastructure. It was designed with the intention that the space between the office clusters could be filled with additional offices in the future as demand increased. However, this idea was never realized and the building has remained unchanged since it was built. Despite this, it is still considered to be an aesthetically notable example of form and function and is featured in architecture education around the world.

MGA was asked to design a renovation and gentle refresh of this iconic piece of architectural history. The project scope included new interiors for the entrance, ground floor common areas and elevators, the president’s office, and giving the exterior an update that gently enhanced the lighting and tower surface while honoring Kenzo Tange’s original concept.

PROJECT INFO

Size: 2,030 SF