TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FORUM BY RAFAEL VIÑOLY

The Tokyo International Forum, Japan's largest congress center, is situated on the boundary between Marunouchi, Tokyo's central business area and the Ginza shopping and entertainment district.

 
The International Forum includes two theaters, one among the largest in the world, over 6,000 square meters of exhibition space, several conference rooms, restaurants, shops and other amenities. 

The main elements of the Forum are a 60 meter high hull-shaped glass and steel atrium on the west end of the site and a cluster of block like buildings, housing the theaters, restaurants and shops, along the east end of the site.

The two-block granite paved Plaza at the center of the complex serves not only as the entry point for the complex, but as a public space with seating among Zelkova trees and sculptures. 

 

The atrium and other structures are linked by two levels of underground space as well as several above ground glass encased catwalks. 

A series of civic functions; a library, mediatech, restaurants, cafes, shops, an art gallery, and a 24-hour multi-media theater provide the activities that give the space its public character.

 Under the Plaza a Concourse connects the public to local and regional rail networks, containing a food court with shopping, continuing education facilities and an International Exchange Salon, the circulation of the Concourse wraps around a central Exhibition Hall and becomes itself the main floor of the Glass Hall.

The soaring Glass Hall serves as the main reception area for the Forum. By using laminated glass the architects were able to allow sunlight into the below ground Lobby area. 

 

Laminated glass was also used for several walkways and bridges giving them the appearance of flying across space. 

A ramp along the length of the Glass Hall, leading to the top of the building, is intersected by a number of bridges that, in addition to connecting spaces, work as horizontal struts to resist the wind pressure on the walls of the Glass Hall.

Semicircular steel girders are suspended from the 210 meter long ceiling in a design which mimics the wooden frame of a ship.

The Glass Hall facade uses approximately 20,000 square meters of 17.5mm laminated, heat-strengthened glass.

Laminated glass is made by sandwiching a plastic interlayer between two panes of glass and has been commonly found in car windshields for nearly 60 years.

By using laminated glass, architects were able to meet both the aesthetic needs of the center's design, as well as provide the safety and comfort features necessary for a structure that would be highly populated.

"In Japan, the major obstacle to acceptance is to demonstrate commitment. It seems difficult for us nowadays to be committed for the long haul. I moved to Japan and took most of my office along. Together with those hired in Tokyo, we had 250 people from our office on site together with 800 engineers."

Rafael Viñoly

Completed: 1997
Client: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Architects : Rafael Viñoly Architects
Structural : Structural Design Group Co.,Ltd
Site Area: 21,000 square meters
Building Area : 7,360 square meters
Total Floor Area : 40,400 square meters
Length : 208 meters
Width : 31.7 meters
Height : 57.5 meters
Total Steel Weight : 6,600 Ton

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