The innovative development of the 17-storey building was
led by Toshin Dvelopment Co., Ltd. and design of the common
area by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP. The Takashimaya Rose Hall, a
spacious 500 capacity multi-purpose event space spans from
the first to the third floors of the development and is widely used
as a cultural centre, exhibition hall and corporate offices. The
remaining upper floors are home to luxury apartments, in which
a calm living environment has been promoted through the use
of natural materials like Kebony. Chosen to ensure the exterior
decking in the common area would seamlessly merge with the
surrounding foliage and greenery, the beautiful and naturally
enhanced wood was a key part of the innovative development.
The architects were attracted to Kebony due to its durability,
dimensional stability and rich brown tone which fades to
a natural silver-grey patina over time, as well as the fact that
Kebony is a natural product. A resistance to wear was also a vital
requirement of the development, which rendered Kebony and
its hardwearing qualities the perfect material. The sustainable
timber’s role in the development of the Yokohama Kitasaiwai
Building is another example of the company’s international
growth and ambition, which have been supported by the
opening of their new production facility in Belgium in October
2018.
THE ARCHITECTS WERE ATTRACTED TO KEBONY DUE
TO ITS DURABILITY, DIMENSIONAL STABILITY AND
RICH BROWN TONE WHICH FADES TO A NATURAL
SILVER-GREY PATINA OVER TIME.