Mori Building Co., Ltd. opened the Azabudai Hills complex in Minato-ku, Tokyo in November 2023.
Azabudai Hills is situated between ”Cultural Hub Roppongi Hills” and “Global Business Center Tranomon Hills”, serving as a compact city within a city that seamlessly connects culture and business with greenery.
The development concept of Azabudai Hills was led by the idea “A town enveloped by nature, that connects people through a central square – a Modern Urban Village“. The main concept is supported by two main pillars; “Nature” and “Wellness”, and to achieve this vision, Green Wise was responsible for the landscape design of the central square, garden plazas and the overall landscape supervision including its maintenance and utilisation after its completion.
Azabudai Hills, designed with inspiration from the hills of the area which it is build on, occupies one-third of the site (approximately 24,000 square meters) with greenery. To materialize the design theme set by Heatherwick Studio; “Feeling the landscape with the Five Senses” a strong landscape design plan was needed, which Green Wise was entrusted with to creating a space that envelops biodiversity and provides enjoyment and activities for the people.
A Community that is built around the Central Square
At the heart of the town lies the ”central square”, spanning approximately 6,000 square meters of green spaces, including grassy areas and water features, providing various spaces for relaxation. Surrounding the central square, approximately 320 diverse plant species have been carefully selected and incorporated throughout the entire site, creating a floral design that allows visitors to feel the changing seasons.
On the sloped area facing the central plaza, there is an orchard featuring eight types of citrus fruits, apricots, also including blueberries and other fruit-bearing plants. Adjacent to it, there is a vegetable garden for growing seasonal produce. Various programs are developed in collaboration with facilities, tenants, and local communities to enjoy flowers, greenery, and fruits depending on the seasons.
We Believe nature serves as the foundation and support of the creation of new communities within the town. When many people feel a sense of connection and attachment to the green areas, this contributes to the cultivation and growth of the community, and furthermore, to the overall development of the area.
Green Wise will continue to oversee the maintenance and management of green spaces across the entire site of Azabudai Hills, ensuring that the quantity and quality continue to improve. Additionally, by encouraging people to engage with these spaces on a daily basis, fostering a sense of collective ownership, we aim to make the green areas accessible and enjoyable for all visitors. We will continue to support the enrichment of the town’s green spaces.
Opening: November 24, 2023
Developer: Mori Building Co., Ltd.
Project: Azabudai Hills
Location: Tranomon 5-chome, Azabudai 1-chome, and Roppongi 3-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Site area: Approximately 8.1 hectares
Design: Mori Building Co., Ltd.
Construction: SHIMIZU CORPORATION, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., OBAYASHI CORPORATION, and others
Architectural Design: Pelli Clarke & Partners, Heatherwick Studio, NIHON SEKKEI, INC., YAMASHITA SEKKEI INC.
Tower Plaza Entrance Design: Sou Fujimoto Architects
Concept work: Winkreative
Environmental Certification (Provisional): LEED ND Platinum, LEED BD+C Platinum(Mori JP Tower), WELL
Landscape Basic Design/Implementation Design: Green Wise Co., Ltd.