Renewal

Interior and exterior renovation of this 73 year-old department store in the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture aimed for an updated image, yet included preserving a sense of the building's original character and history. The exterior design combines glass and pure-white aluminum panels with LED lights embedded in the panel joints. At night, this effect emits a welcoming glow, creating an illuminated, eye-catching image. Earthquake-resistant improvements included installation of steel braces; security improvements involved installation of emergency elevators. Winner of the 24th Fukuoka City Landscape Award

A 37-year-old apartment building in Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, recently underwent seismic retrofit and earthquake-resistance renovations. This comprehensive renovation project called for the preservation of the Arita-ware tile exterior, a refined facade that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. Since the premises are located directly above a subway line, the construction posed several challenges. To install the laminated-rubber seismic isolation devices for the piles, a seismic isolation layer was built underground and 52 piles were cut, four at a time, while the structure was supported by jacks.