Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
Hiroshima, Japan
I've always had a fascination with engineering and construction, wherever I've been if there's a tall building to be climbed... I've climbed it and Japan has been no exception. There is an instant "wow" factor with all of these structures but the sensation and memories soon fade as there is little to no personal interaction or connection with any of them. As an avid viewer of Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs I'm in total agreement with his philosophy that good architecture should enrich the human spirit and improve the wellbeing of all that live or work within them, not that I know anything about such ideologies or how one designs such buildings.
Having been back home from Japan for just over a month now I've been dying to write this part of my travel blog, as this building is worthy of a few lines and a definite "must visit" if you ever go to Hiroshima.
From the street, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower does not standout. The A-Bomb Dome building on the other side of the road is what visiting tourists come to see. However, it's a nice looking building but modest in exterior appearance. It is only a 13 storey building, comprising of a cafe and souvenir shop on the 1st floor; rented meeting rooms on the 2nd; and rented office spaces covering the 3rd to 11th floors, But for visiting tourists, it is the rooftop observation deck, "Sampo" spiral slope and the Orizuru Wall that make this such a special place to visit and I'm not just talking about the view over the A-Bomb Dome and surrounding landscape, which in their own right are worthy of the admission price alone.
You will have to bare with me on this one as I want to upload my images out of sequence starting with the observation deck - Hiroshima Hills. What was meant to be a quick visit, grab some photos of the setting sun and then out for dinner somewhere turned out to be the "ultimate chill out with a view" and relaxing experience that rounded off the perfect day for me that started so happily in the Peace Memorial Park. We almost missed the sunset because of the fun we were having just climbing the building, but that will be the subject of another upload so I'll keep stum for now.
When you finally reach the top floor the clever interior design continues by delaying the vista as long as possible. There is one final staircase you must climb, no more than 5 or 6ft (if my memory serves me right) that only affords you a glimpse of the sky. Only when your eye line reaches the top step do you see the full panorama of this stunning observation deck and you instantly rush up the few remaining steps to survey the whole scene before you.
Once there you realise that the small staircase is nothing more than a clever device to position you for maximum visual impact as it welcomes you to Hiroshima Hills. Only then, do you notice that the whole deck flows away from you back down to ground level from where you've just climbed. The observation deck is completely open to the elements on the north, south and west sides, but you can't see the A-Bomb Dome from this vantage point, you have to walk down the slope to the west side for that view. To my mind, another example of carefully thought out design that doesn't focus on the past and the dome but presents the surrounding landscape to you first and foremost.
The whole of the observation deck is constructed from timber and oozes the very best of what I'm sure is the highest of Japanese craftsmanship. The floor and pillars are made from Japanese cypress, while the roof is made from Japanese cedar. It genuinely is a "wow" moment but that is quickly replaced with a sensation of calmness and peacefulness. Even as a photographer it is hard to resist these emotions and focus purely on photography for you just want to sit down, like everybody else, and soak up the atmosphere of this place. The lighting again is understated, just like the A-Bomb Dome, and compliments the warm tones and textures of the timber enticing you to touch and feel the grain. There is a cafe/bar at the rear where you can purchase a nice bottle of wine to pass a pleasant hour watching the sun sink below the Hiroshima hills. I just wish we had spotted that sooner.
We spent over an hour just relaxing here, so chilled out by the experience I really didn't take that many photos but just enough to capture the moment. It really was difficult to leave but I'm glad we did else we would have missed out on another highlight of the Orizuru Tower... the floor below and hopefully my next upload.
If you've never heard of this building that's because it only opened officially on the 23th September 2016 after a major refurbishment and rebranding. Formally known as the Mazda building.
Architect: Hiroshi Sambuichi
Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
Hiroshima, Japan
I've always had a fascination with engineering and construction, wherever I've been if there's a tall building to be climbed... I've climbed it and Japan has been no exception. There is an instant "wow" factor with all of these structures but the sensation and memories soon fade as there is little to no personal interaction or connection with any of them. As an avid viewer of Kevin McCloud's Grand Designs I'm in total agreement with his philosophy that good architecture should enrich the human spirit and improve the wellbeing of all that live or work within them, not that I know anything about such ideologies or how one designs such buildings.
Having been back home from Japan for just over a month now I've been dying to write this part of my travel blog, as this building is worthy of a few lines and a definite "must visit" if you ever go to Hiroshima.
From the street, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower does not standout. The A-Bomb Dome building on the other side of the road is what visiting tourists come to see. However, it's a nice looking building but modest in exterior appearance. It is only a 13 storey building, comprising of a cafe and souvenir shop on the 1st floor; rented meeting rooms on the 2nd; and rented office spaces covering the 3rd to 11th floors, But for visiting tourists, it is the rooftop observation deck, "Sampo" spiral slope and the Orizuru Wall that make this such a special place to visit and I'm not just talking about the view over the A-Bomb Dome and surrounding landscape, which in their own right are worthy of the admission price alone.
You will have to bare with me on this one as I want to upload my images out of sequence starting with the observation deck - Hiroshima Hills. What was meant to be a quick visit, grab some photos of the setting sun and then out for dinner somewhere turned out to be the "ultimate chill out with a view" and relaxing experience that rounded off the perfect day for me that started so happily in the Peace Memorial Park. We almost missed the sunset because of the fun we were having just climbing the building, but that will be the subject of another upload so I'll keep stum for now.
When you finally reach the top floor the clever interior design continues by delaying the vista as long as possible. There is one final staircase you must climb, no more than 5 or 6ft (if my memory serves me right) that only affords you a glimpse of the sky. Only when your eye line reaches the top step do you see the full panorama of this stunning observation deck and you instantly rush up the few remaining steps to survey the whole scene before you.
Once there you realise that the small staircase is nothing more than a clever device to position you for maximum visual impact as it welcomes you to Hiroshima Hills. Only then, do you notice that the whole deck flows away from you back down to ground level from where you've just climbed. The observation deck is completely open to the elements on the north, south and west sides, but you can't see the A-Bomb Dome from this vantage point, you have to walk down the slope to the west side for that view. To my mind, another example of carefully thought out design that doesn't focus on the past and the dome but presents the surrounding landscape to you first and foremost.
The whole of the observation deck is constructed from timber and oozes the very best of what I'm sure is the highest of Japanese craftsmanship. The floor and pillars are made from Japanese cypress, while the roof is made from Japanese cedar. It genuinely is a "wow" moment but that is quickly replaced with a sensation of calmness and peacefulness. Even as a photographer it is hard to resist these emotions and focus purely on photography for you just want to sit down, like everybody else, and soak up the atmosphere of this place. The lighting again is understated, just like the A-Bomb Dome, and compliments the warm tones and textures of the timber enticing you to touch and feel the grain. There is a cafe/bar at the rear where you can purchase a nice bottle of wine to pass a pleasant hour watching the sun sink below the Hiroshima hills. I just wish we had spotted that sooner.
We spent over an hour just relaxing here, so chilled out by the experience I really didn't take that many photos but just enough to capture the moment. It really was difficult to leave but I'm glad we did else we would have missed out on another highlight of the Orizuru Tower... the floor below and hopefully my next upload.
If you've never heard of this building that's because it only opened officially on the 23th September 2016 after a major refurbishment and rebranding. Formally known as the Mazda building.
Architect: Hiroshi Sambuichi