“The Memorial Day of a building completion 002 ～Toranomon Hills”
A Pioneer of revitalization of Toranomon area
The second topic for“The Memorial Day of a building completion”, series is the Toranomon Hills, which opened 4 years ago today.
Among the series of large-size complex development projects with the name of “Hills” operated by Mori Building Co., Ltd., Toranomon Hills is the third biggest building following ARK Hills, and Roppongi Hills. It was often broadcasted by the mass media before and after its completion, and many people came to see it.
Toranomon Hills has two major features. One is that it is a product of the “Type II Urban Area Redevelopment Project” enforced by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Another is that a trunk road runs underneath the building, utilizing the “underground rights” which had been legalized by the “duplex use system for the road and building site.”
This trunk road is namely “The loop road No.2” connecting Shimbashi and Toranomon. It took 68 years from its city planning decision in 1946 to its completion. Now you can see the elegant feature with the double layer structure road with a skyscraper on it. Moreover there were many people who were involved with this project, devoting themselves with creative ideas, enthusiastic persuasion and persistent effort.
Now, with this Toranomon Hills as an initiator, the redevelopment movement of the neighboring block areas and the roadsides of the loop road No.2 has become active. The subway Hibiya line passes by the area, and “Toranomon new station” is planned to be developed between Kamiyacho station and Kasumigaseki station, aiming to start the service before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and be completed in 2022. The ground level of the loop road No.2 heading for Toranomon Hills from Shimbashi is called “New Tora Street” and is planned to have sidewalks which are 13meters in width on each side. It is aiming to have open cafes on both sides similar to Champs-Elysé.
As for the height of the building, it is a nominal 247meters, which is 1m lower than Tokyo Midtown. There is a saying that it is actually 255.5m. There might be some modest consideration as a public body, but the truth is still uncertain.
This was the second issue of the “Memorial Day of a building completion”. From the next post I would like to continue the Toranomon edition of “Tokyo Review”. Please keep an eye out for the next post!
