Thursday, May 31, 2012

Tokyo sky tree


      Tower with Asakusa area            Tower with the golden obect

Approximately twice the height of the Eiffel Tower, the 634-meter, ¥65 billion (US$806 million) Tokyo Skytree opened to the public on Tuesday.Even though opening day had bad weather, a lot of people visited the new Tokyo landmark.

There are the commercial building called Tokyo Soramachi and aquarium around the tower for being as the central attraction of Tokyo.

Saying what came in my heart when I saw this new tower design was "Hmm…not new!!" and "Was it necessary to make it?"

Then, I was interested in "what is the concept?" and I checked it on the internet.

I found the styling and color concept in the official website, but it seems to have too much detail and no one realized about them.
 For example, the styling image came from the big tree which stretched up toward to the sky, The styling which changed gradually from a triangle section to a circle comes from Sori(warpage)  and Mukuri(arch rise) which is seen in traditional Japanese architecture. As for the color, it's the original color based on Japanese traditional color Ajiiro -the lightest color in the Aizome(indigo dyeing) world.

Although there are deeply thought concepts in their design, no one realizes about it without explanation.
From normal people's point of view, it's just like a kind of future tower design or something. The official site said that they aimed at the elegant design, but I think that Eiffel Tower looks more elegant.

The lighting concept called Iki(swankiness) and Miyabi(elegance) is also difficult to understand without the explanation. It seems like just a colorful illumination. I mean, it doesn't surpass the current level.

Simply put, the things that building the world highest broadcasting tower and making a commercial place and illuminating it are completely same as Tokyo tower did before and there is no improvement. It's just higher than Tokyo tower.

Even so, Japanese media reported daily that "Skytower surpassed the height of Tokyo tower" "It's the world highest broadcasting tower!!" and "Many people visited and lined up for hours on the first day". I think it's like same atmosphere as the postwar high-growth period in Japan and it leaves a lot to be desired. I think the biggest problem is that it lacks of the vision like "let's make a new concept for new century"

Regis Arnaud French newspaper Figaro reporter described similar things in the Newsweek Japan. He said the thought of "building a high construction equal progress" is outdated and it has been an exclusive feature of developing countries.
He also said that Skytree looks as a symbol of decline not progress.
Tokyo chose the way which follows a third class city such as Guangdong and Dubai. Tokyo will be eaten up by developers in the future.  Bitter fruits could grow on the tree called Tokyo Skytree in the long run.

I think he pointed out perfectly about this issue that Japanese media never did.



         Omotesando Hills                                                 Doujunkai apartment          

Tadao Ando famous Japanese architect designed the Omotesando Hills with his the new concept that featured the memory of the city about 10 years ago.
For examples, the height of building is low to fit in the landscape, roof greening to connect with zelkova trees on the Omotesando street and recreating of the part of outer wall of the old Doujunkai apartment which has been loved by neighbors for long time. As mentioned above, his concept which avoiding to break the landscape and history of the city and passing the memory of people onto the future is really smart.

I think the point of view that Tokyo skytree doesn't have is these kind of vision.
Before start to make the tower design, they should have deeply thought about it.

Japanese people are easily warmed up but easily cooled down.
I hope that Tokyo Skytree will never decline several years later.
We can't scrap it easily compared with Golden shit in Azumabashi.

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