dominique perrault: fukoku tower

‘fukoku tower’ by dominique perrault in osaka japan all images courtesy dominique perrault architectureimage © shimizu / DPA / ADAGP

paris-based dominique perrault architecture has completed ‘fukoku tower’, a 32-storey office complex in the heard of osaka, japan. situated on a corner near the city’s main train station, the design applies an identifiable yet subtle architectural language to define itself as a physical marker in the urban landscape.

broken facade treatment image © shimizu / DPA / adagp

influenced by the organic characteristics of a large tree, the tower draws elements from nature and incorporates them to the form and facade of the tower: at the base, the regular orthogonal glass facade references ‘wood chips’ with random cells pulled out and skewed out at an angle. from a distance, this treatment resembles a pixelated growth or ‘peeling off’ of barks. as the facade reaches the top, it gradually gives way to a sleek wall. the lower levels extend out to the plaza level by level, resulting in a gently tapering profile, much like that of an old and established tree trunk.

detail image © shimizu / DPA / ADAGP tapered base images © DPA / ADAGP

looking into the ground floor lobby image © DPA / adagp

overall view in context image © DPA / ADAGP

rendered view of plaza image © DPA / ADAGP

rendered night view image © DPA / ADAGP

sketch of design image © dominique perrault  / ADAGP

image © dominique perrault  / ADAGP

floor plan image © DPA / ADAGP

section image © DPA / ADAGP

project info:

architect: dominique perrault architecture, paris, france associated architect: shimizu corporation architects & engineers engineering: shimizu corporation architects & engineers consultant: mitsubishi estate group

site area: 3,900 m2 built area: 68,500 m2 (including car park) maximum height: 133 m – 32 floors: 28 floors on surface, 4 basement levels office space: 30,000 m2 car park: 4,080 m2 university laboratories: 3,400 m2 commercial area: 4,930 m2 office lobby: 950 m2