Tokyo Midtown Honor Award for Urban Architecture

The urban design of this world-class, 25-acre mixed-use complex marks a significant cultural shift in the approach to creating public open space and designing landscapes in Japan. Green space in Tokyo is traditionally found in the form of private gardens: landscapes designed to be looked at rather than used. In supporting the client’s vision, Tokyo Midtown’s innovative design includes more than 50% open space, blending large green lawns and parks with contemplative intervals that are more traditionally Japanese. The neighborhood is transformed by the park, which in turn is truly integrated into the fabric of daily life in Roppongi. The new development has become a landmark for the City of Tokyo and the premier address in Japan, and is likely to usher in a new generation of urban buildings that reject the podium in exchange for meaningful ground-level public open space.