Umeda Sky Building

The Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル, Umeda Sukai Biru) is the nineteenth-tallest[1] building in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the center.[2] It is located in Umeda district of Kita-ku, Osaka.

Looking up view
The escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space
Night view from Umeda Sky Building
Dusk view from Umeda Sky Building

The building was originally conceived in 1988 as the "City of Air" project, which planned to create four interconnected towers in northern Osaka. Eventually, the Japan economic bubble of the 1980s burst and brought the number of towers down to two.

The 173 m (568 ft)[3] building was designed by Hiroshi Hara. It was constructed by Takenaka Corporation and was completed in 1993.[4]

The building features a rooftop observatory, The Floating Garden Observatory, as well as an underground market that attempts to recreate the atmosphere of Osaka in the early 20th century.[5] At the base of the towers is an urban garden with walking trails and water features.

Ownership

The building was mainly owned by Toshiba Corporation through Toshiba Building Co., Ltd. In July 2008, Toshiba sold a majority stake (65%) in Toshiba Building to Nomura Real Estate co. but maintains a 35% ownership.[6]

Tenants

Mazda has an office in the Umeda Sky Building Tower East.[7] The Consulate-General of Germany in Osaka is located on the thirty-fifth floor of the Umeda Sky Building Tower East.[8] AstraZeneca have their Japanese and Asia-Pacific headquarters in the East Tower. PlatinumGames is also located in the building.[9]

See also
  • List of tallest buildings in Osaka

References
  1. List of tallest structures in Osaka Prefecture
  2. "Umeda Sky Building". GoJapanGo. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  3. "Umeda Sky Building". Japan Guide. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  4. "Outline of Shin Umeda City". Sky Building. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  5. "Umeda Sky Building: The Floating Garden Observatory". Virtual Tourist. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  6. Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc. and Toshiba Corporation to Establish Alliance in Real Estate Business through Sale of Majority Ownership of Toshiba Building Co., Ltd.
  7. "Offices Archived 2009-10-07 at the Wayback Machine." Mazda. Retrieved on October 29, 2009.
  8. "List of Consulates in Kansai Area Archived 2008-09-23 at the Wayback Machine." Creation Core Higashi Osaka. Retrieved on January 15, 2009.
  9. "Inside Platinum Games: we chart the history and future of the studio behind Bayonetta." Retrieved on October 19, 2014.
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