In Fukuoka City in Japan, they have an amazing building called “ACROS Fukuoka” with two very distinct sides: one side looks like a conventional office building with glass walls, but on the other side there is a huge terraced roof that merges with a park. The garden terraces, which reach up to about 60 meters above the ground, contain some 35,000 plants representing 76 species. A huge semicircular atrium and the triangular lobby provide contrast to the greenery, in this space is a symphony hall, offices and shops.
The building was constructed on the last remaining green space in the city center, so the architects, Emilio Ambasz & Associates, created a design to preserve the green space as much as possible, while still fitting in a large office building. In addition, a green roof reduces the energy consumption of a building, because it keeps the temperature inside more constant and comfortable. Green roofs also capture rainwater runoff, and support the life of insects and birds.
The building is a success in Japan, its terraced south facade utilized by many in the area for exercise and rest, affording views of the city and the harbor beyond. Unfortunately it has received little press overseas, especially in the United States.
This building was also featured in a book showcasing green roofs. Published last year, this visually attractive book has photos and descriptions of forty case studies of exemplary green roof projects — from Mexico City to Malmo, Sweden to Fukuoka, Japan to Dearborn, Michigan. It includes contributions from many of the leading people in the field. The book is intended to inform and inspire communities, designers, building owners by showcasing the environmental and aesthetic potential of large-scale green roofs. It’s available from Amazon
20 responses so far ↓
1 Jasmine Chng // Apr 13, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Here is another green building that has received numerous awards, including an AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Project in 2004, and a RIBA Worldwide Award in 2005.
Check out pictures of the Genzyme Center here: http://www.greenoptions.com/blog/2007/03/28/green_building_tour_genzyme_center
2 Preston // Apr 13, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Wow! After living in Japan for a while, I can honestly say they really have sustainability and conservation embedded in the social fabric. It’s crazy, but some business person could make a lot of money purely by exporting ideas and innovation from smart countries like Japan. This is an example of sustainable innovation at work.
3 Jasmine Chng // Apr 16, 2007 at 11:53 am
By the way, I found another picture of the building in Flickr with the sakura flowers in the foreground. Beautiful!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77667545@N00/459699793/
4 Justin // Apr 16, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Jasmine,
Nice picture of the building in spring. I would really like to visit this building.
Justin
5 MIRIAM // May 1, 2007 at 11:52 am
Complinents to the architectto to that bilding .Wish to visit it.
6 Richard Jones // May 3, 2007 at 3:30 am
I wish every new building was designed on the principles of ecological sustainability and not just naked greed. How about it architects? Time is running out for the human race and it’s time to get real.
7 Sara // May 3, 2007 at 5:36 am
Preston,
It’s far from crazy and there are people that do that for a living. I can’t remember which program it was on so unfortunately you’ll have to take my word for it.
8 Stuart // May 11, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Preston,
Let’s hope they export it to the surrounding buildings…
9 pappoo // May 13, 2007 at 3:25 pm
very good
10 Shane in Brisbane // May 22, 2007 at 4:52 am
Grand architectural gestures to greenspace are nice enough…but….
For a country with such poor food security (40% self sufficient) and nearly totally dependent on energy imports, you gotta wonder if any number of green sky sky scrapers are much more than window dressing the approaching economic/energetic/ecological melt down we all face….
11 ACROS Fukuoka at memoirs on a rainy day // Dec 2, 2007 at 7:02 am
[...] ACROS Fukuoka, the amazing green building in Japan. These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
12 Erik // Dec 3, 2007 at 9:56 am
While this is nice, for what it is, I don’t believe it suggests that the Japanese have “sustainability and conservation embedded in the social fabric.” After all, the article notes that this design was conceived only because it mitigated the elimination of “last remaining green space in the city center.” What kind of insane urban anti-planning leaves a major city with only one notable green space to begin with? A healthy large city needs dozens of well-designed, usable public parks and urban gardens of various descriptions.
13 G R E E N • R O O F S • A U S T R A L I A // Jan 4, 2008 at 8:02 pm
[...] ACROS Fukuoka building, Japan, via Metaefficient [...]
14 Anonymous // Jan 10, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Uh, let’s not forget that this is the country that’s insisting on it’s “right” to kill endangered cetaceans in the Antarctic. Sustainability and conservation embedded in the social fabric? You have got to be kidding, right? Most likely this was an attempt to stave off criticism (remarkably easy to do in Japan) for disrupting the green space to begin with.
15 Scott Dora // Jan 22, 2008 at 7:34 pm
WOWWWWWW!!!!!!! AWESOMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hom sera tenkan bombileee!!!! Hom sera shep bala babeii!!!!!
16 NEELAM GUPTA // Mar 27, 2008 at 6:14 am
GREAT WORK!!!
17 clark arrington // Apr 28, 2008 at 10:47 am
we expoloringhow we can install a wind and solar energy system for our 8 story office building in Columbus MS. Can you provide assistance or refer us to am organization or person wh can?
regards,
Clark
18 Sandra Ruiz // May 29, 2008 at 3:34 pm
International Code Council is very interested in using the Fukuoka green building image in a Safe and Sustainable Display booth at our Annual Conference.
Can you please let me know what the procedures are to use the photo
19 Young landscape architect // Jul 12, 2008 at 3:42 am
good idea
20 Jack Moore // Jul 22, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Thank you for your site. Especially today’s.
Jack Moore
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