Tokyo’s Torch Tower: A New Architectural Marvel
Tokyo is set to get another unique addition to its skyline — this one resembling an Olympic torch.
Tokyo’s Torch Tower will soar 1,279 feet into the air, making it Japan’s tallest skyscraper when it opens in 2027. The tower will include a boutique hotel and an observation deck with views of the city and Mount Fuji, Kyodo News reports.
Unprecedented Heights
When completed, the Torch Tower will be nearly 300 feet taller than Japan’s current tallest building, Abeno Harukas in Osaka. Moreover, it will outshine a new, nearly 1,100-foot tower schedule to open in Tokyo in 2023, according to CNN. However, this new iconic building will not be sufficient to make the list of the world’s 21 tallest buildings, a title currently held by the towering 2,700-foot Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
A Historic Location
Tokyo’s Torch Tower is part of a larger 338,000-square-foot project located at the site of what was home to Tokiwabashi Gate, one of several entrances to a 15th-century Edo Castle that once occupied this area.
Features and Amenities
The building, which will be situated near Tokyo Station, will feature:
- 63 floors of office space
- A boutique hotel
- A bathhouse
- Retail shops
- Restaurants
Consequently, its flame will serve as an observation deck, giving visitors a unique perspective of the city.
Safety and Sustainability
Additionally, it will be constructed to withstand seismic activity and will serve as shelter in case of a natural disaster, CNN reported.
Vision for the Future
Mitsubishi Estate, the developer behind the project and part of the Mitsubishi Motors conglomerate, hopes the building will be viewed as “a torch that lights up the world,” per the company’s website.
Flame-Inspired Architecture
The Torch Tower isn’t the only piece of architecture in the city shaped like a flame. Tokyo is also home to the headquarters of Asahi Breweries, a building that’s designed like a beer glass with a flame on top.
