Outline
| designer | Hiroshi Hara, Atelier Phi, Toshihiko Kimura |
| builder | TAKENAKA CORPORATION, OBAYASHI CORPORATION, KAJIMA CORPORATION, Aoki Corporation JV |
| structure | steel, reinforced concrete, steel reinforced concrete |
| completion | 1993 |
The Umeda Sky Building is a twin tower in Umeda, Osaka, Japan. It is the oldest connected skyscraper in the world. Connecting the two buildings has the advantage of facilitating movement between the two buildings and improving their seismic performance. The building is mainly occupied by offices and rental meeting rooms. The architect, Sekisui House (major Japanese housebuilder), is also headquartered here. The rooftop garden is open to the public.
Lift-up method
The lift-up construction method was used to install an aerial garden viewing platform connecting the two towers. The lift-up construction method involves preassembling the structure on the ground and then pulling it up. This method shortens the construction period and allows work to be carried out safely.In the construction of the Umeda Sky Building, the two wings were warped outwards in advance. The construction was thereby constructed in such a way that the warping is corrected after lifting. After the construction of the Umeda Sky Building, the lift-up construction method was adopted in Japan for the construction of dome stadiums and factories.
Design
The Umeda Sky Building was initially planned as three connected wings. However, the final plan resulted in the current two wings. The design allows for a third building to be built in the future, which can be connected to the two existing buildings. Thanks to the linking of several buildings, several buildings can be easily moved. This may have been an attempt to realize the image of an aerial city.
The concept of the Umeda Sky Building is ‘coexistence with nature’. The aerial garden and the public open space on the site are a harmonious coexistence with nature, within the urban context. The curtain wall on the exterior wall also reflects the sky and clouds, reducing the oppressive feeling of a high-rise building.
It is currently accessible from JR Osaka Station by a connecting walkway. The future redevelopment of the Umekita area will unite JR Osaka Station, the Umekita area and Shin-Umeda City. This could create new flows of people.
