LandscapeArchitecture:PLATdesign
Projectname : NSE Kitakyushu Technology Center
Completiondate : 2011
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
Area :9500sqm
Designerof Architecture : Nippon Steel Engineering Co.,Ltd.
Client: Nippon Steel Engineering Co.,Ltd.
Photos& text: PLAT
Thissite is located in an industrial area of Kita-Kyushu that is one of four areasin Japan designated to promote economic growth. The beauty and richness of thecoastal scenery along the Sea of Japan has been lost in exchange for thisindustrialization, resulting in ruinous pollution. From decades ago however,the city of Kitakyushu has endeavored to regain the former beauty of the skyand sea by a joint effort of citizens, businesses, and municipalities topromote a new environmental city model. In this site the client chose todemolish a portion of their company building, and wanted the new constructionconvey the attitude of their company of addressing environmental issues whileensuring operational efficiency and improved productivity.
Mostof the area in front of the office is a parking lot and car approach, but thegoal was to provide more than just this function by creating a front gardenthat was also a high quality spatial landscape that conveyed the corporatephilosophy. Furthermore, by not simply preserving the existing green space butby adding more plantings, this grove of greenery represented the green networkrelationship of dotting green spaces throughout this industrial zone.
Agentle mound of grass intersected by a natural stone wall hides the cars inparking lot from the field of view, showing a multilayered green expanse beyondthat warmly welcomes visitors. The regular segmentation of the parking lot treegrid is relieved of rigidity by the softness of the tree shadows swaying in thewind. The green volume of this space reflects in the fa?ade of the glass entry,showing changes in the seasons as well as encompassing the entire garden in acomfortable space. In addition, the regular order of trees and the landscape elementsof lighting and drainage work as a system, efficiently giving order to the siteand allowing the parking spaces themselves to become a valuable landscapeelement.
Bycreating this simple spatial structure that combines both function andlandscape, the result is the welcoming scene of a ?°garden,?± as well as avaluable company symbol.
