DESA1002 'Continuous City' <Kate Cecil>

Abstract

This semester I have designed the Tokyo Tourist Towers. This has allowed me to be creative in a way I thought never possible. With my site being located in the centre of a major and highly populated city, I decided to design a building that serves as a tourist attraction. My design provides the tourists with the experience of the Japanese culture in a contemporary setting, with a range of activities from calligraphy to tea ceremonies, lounge to restaurant and even a separate hotel to stay in while enjoying a getaway. Being two towers, each building has a unique appearance. With the river canal as a focal point of my design, I have orientated my building towards it (South facing), with all other sides being plain in appearance. The West tower, being a hotel, is vertical and symmetrical with a “man made” appearance. On the other hand, the East Tower, being full of a range of Japanese activities, is juxtaposed. With a leaning tower and some sloping floors and ceilings this tower is given the appearance of “machine made”. This is shown through the materials being glass and steel structure. Each space designed also has a unique appearance and feel. It still fascinates me how different spaces can be both distinct as well as unique from one to another. It is not until the space is created in 3D that you realise how the size, whether it is the floor area or the ceiling height, can really change the feeling of the space dramatically. An example of this is how a leaning wall can really affect the space and the way it is designed. The Tokyo Tourist Towers is linked by a central lift shaft, which not only provides a stable structure but also a connection point that links the two contrasting buildings together. My design then becomes not just two separate building towers but one building in a whole.