From the left, YOSHIMOTO BUILDING, and on the other side of the road Dai-ni YOSHIMOTO BUILDING, HERBIS ENT, and HERBIS OSAKA

The town planning undertaken by Takenaka in front of and in the western area of Osaka Station since the completion of the YOSHIMOTO BUILDING in 1986, stretches over an area of 410,000 square meters, and with each of the buildings, the development included the organic and combined functions required by a city center.

The Dai-ni YOSHIMOTO BUILDING and HERBIS ENT were completed one after the other at the entrance to the western area in front of Osaka Station in the fall of 2004. These buildings are the culmination of around 20 years of architecture since the land redevelopment work began in this entire area in 1985. The town planning work being undertaken by Takenaka in front of and in the western area of Osaka Station since the completion of the Yoshimoto Building in 1986 includes HERBIS OSAKA, completed in 1997, Umeda DT Tower, completed in 2003, and with the completion of these two new buildings, stretches over an area of some 410,000 square meters. None of these buildings comprise a single use, but were designed to include the organic and combined functions required by a city center. Also, as these buildings are near the newly-designated town planning area of Kita Yard connected through Shin Yotsubashisuji Avenue, a strong network will be established with the surrounding area, reinforcing the functions. Night view of the exterior of HERBIS ENT, with a commercial zone and theaters in the low-rise and offices in the high-level floors in the high-rise The glass facade of the YOSHIMOTO BUILDING 2 on the opposite side of Yotsubashisuji Avenue
Originally, the sites for these two projects were intersected by a road and separated into two blocks, but to make the planning more efficient, land redevelopment work was undertaken and the sites were joined together. With this, some close linkage was required, so both clients and Takenaka worked together as one on this project, planning was given to opening up some land to the public, the entrance plaza using both sites for entering both buildings was developed, and a commercial floor joins the buildings through a passage. The concept throughout HERBIS OSAKA and HERBIS ENT is city management based on "the exchange of people." Without a building fulfilling a single function, instead organically connecting the various functions required in prime real estate in a city center, the aim was for "a town area where various functions echoed," centered on the people. In order to develop a new town landscape, the structural elements were considered from far, middle and close distances, and architecture was created which would provide a "picturesque town landscape" with a continuation of highly-developed scenes that could make up a painting. For the Dai-ni YOSHIMOTO BUILDING, there was a call for "a building that could create lively activity in the town," in concert with the YOSHIMOTO BUILDING on the other side of Yotsubashisuji Avenue. With clear glass enveloping the various uses of the building such as offices, shops, restaurants and halls, the various activities of the people on the inside is transmitted out to the city, creating a building with a human expression rich in change. Furthermore, the greenery that can be seen through the glass pairs with the much-loved "Green Atrium" of the YOSHIMOTO BUILDING, becoming the gateway to Yotsubashisuji Avenue and creating a city landmark with the feeling of life.
The five-level entrance atrium of the Dai-ni YOSHIMOTO BUILDING The pleasant space of the stepped greenery
[ Dai-ni YOSHIMOTO BUILDING ] Client Dai-ni Yoshimoto Building Co. ,Ltd Location 2-2-2 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Design / Construction Takenaka Corporation Structure Steel, Steel-framed reinforced concrete and Reinforced concrete Number of floors 20 fl. above and 4 fl. below ground Total floor space 44,000m2
HERBIS ENT, with a collection of world-famous brand flagship shops	Entrance foyer

[ HERBIS ENT ]
Client	HANSHIN ELECTRIC RAILWAY CO., LTD. MOCHIDUKI KENSETSU CO., LTD.
Location	2-2-22 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Design	Takenaka Corporation
Construction	Takenaka Corporation and five other companies (JV)
Structure	Steel, Steel-framed reinforced concrete and Reinforced concrete
Number of floors	28 fl. above, 4 fl. below ground
Total floor space	106,506m2