Japan 2006: Roppongi Hills

The Garden at Roppongi Hills

Roppongi and Akasaka are where the dance scene and the rich people reside. Roppongi Hills, a massive redevelopment project, has been trumpeted as an urban miracle. Standing on a huge swath of a formerly dilapidated area, this major master plan project was 17 years, 280 billion yen in the making.

View of Tokyo from the Roppongi Hills Observatory Deck

The development tycoon Mori Minoru has created a office complex with its own shopping/entertainment outlets, art museum and charming gardens. In its first year since opening, Ropponggi Hills has seen 40 million visitors, more than 4 times the annual tourist arrival at Changi Airport.

I believe that much of Roppongi Hills' success, which could be emulated in the new mega-developments planned for Singapore, lies in its attractive urban design elements. The massive scale of the development is toned down through inviting ground-level entrances and undulating outdoor gardens and amphitheatres.

The interior of the building feature imaginative arrangement of spaces to create an interactive experience for the visitor. The urban furniture and architecture themes are eclectic and add to the organic nature of the project. These make it an even more manageable experience for the visitor.