Omote-Sando was developed in 1919 as an approach to Meiji shrine. This street is the origin of the advanced culture where in tree-lined road, you can see lots of brand-buildings and the innovative architectures at once. This place is the treasure trove of modern Japanese architecture.
On both sides and side roads of Omotesando toward Meiji shrine from Harajuku station to Nezu Museum with only about 1.6km long,
many masterpieces by world-famous architects have created showcase of countless modern architecture.
(1) Omotesando Hills:
Ando Tadao designed and built in 2006.
Architectural form:
This building is commercial facility whose length 250meters with 6 floors above ground and 6 floors below ground. This building consists of main building, west building and Dojunkai apartment. Commercial facilities where world famous brand makers installed in between 3floors above ground and 3 floors below ground. Residence facilities in above 4 floors.
Interior:
6-layer atrium structure inside the main building with aisles called a spiral slope connected around the structure. The floor is formed with a small tilt angle fit to that of Omote-Sando street.
(2) PRADA Boutique Aoyama:
Hertz Fork & Dome Ron designed and built in 2003.
(a) Architectural form:
Thick lozenge glasses are accumulated on the building wall which seems to be a giant crystal. Three types of concave-convex glass surfaces are pasted at random on the rhombus lattices.
(3) Omote-Sando Keyaki building:
Dan Norihiko designed and built in 2013. The shopping stores of HUGO BOSS who is the fashion brand of Germany enters this building.
(a) Architectural form:
The pillars each different shapes are extending upward vertically as if it rose from the ground. Those pillars are combined each other as if it is a giant tree express vitality.
(4) LOUIS VUITTON OMOTESANDO:
Aoki Jun designed and buit in 2002.
(a) Architectural form:
The structure of this building designed as if trunks are accumulated.
(5) Nezu museum:
Kuma Kengo designed and built in 2009.
(a) Architectural form:
This building provides the exhibit space integrating with the garden by setting the glass opening window that create the status together with garden, architecture and arts.
(6) AO building:
Nihon sekkei designed and bult in 2009,
(a) Architectural form:
This building is built with a low layer tower and a high layer tower combined as 16 floors above ground and 2 floors below ground. The tower is wedge-shaped,
(b) Windows/Walls:
The outer wall is airflow double skin curtain wall and high brightness full color LED installed in the outer peripheral section of the building. light in the night.
(7) COLLEZIONE:
Ando Tadao designed and built in 1989.
(a) Architectural form:
This building was made by steel reinforced concrete with 4 floors on above ground and 3 floor below ground. This is commercial complex combined with commercial space, office space and residence space. This building consists of a cylinder with 21meter diameter and three rectangulars with grid split by 6.15meter. 
(8) Dior:
SANNA which is the unit by Sejima Kazuyo and Nishizawa Ryue designed and built in 2003. They are the winner of Bricker award in 2010.
(a) Architectural form:
This building is 4 stories and designed as 8 layers façade by installing equipment floors of different height in the middle of each floors.. Three major phenomena of glass such as transmission, refration and reflection are used as the modern art.
(b) Windows/Walls:
The outer wall is covered with four face glass. The drape-shaped acrylic curtain is also set inside the glass of the outer wall. This double transparent wall provide the strange effect as if the whole building wear a dress and dancing swaying.
(c) Interia:
In daytime, Japanese zelkova tress on Omote-Sando street can be combined with the building, on the other hand, in night-time, the light inside the building show up that make the building to be floated up.
(9) ONE Omotesando:
A head quarter building of LVMH group including Loui Vuitton
Kumano Kengo designed and built in 2003.
(a) Windows/Walls:
Wooden loopers made by larch trees cover the glass walls which lighten the presence of the building.
(10) Spiral: The building appearance expresses the Images of spiraling upwards.
Maki Fumihiko designed and Wacoal of underwear manufacturers built in 1985 as complex cultural facility using a concept of fusion of life and art.
(a) Architectural form:
The basic elements of square,circle,equilateral triangle and cone are used to construct this building. The appearance is facade style which is created by lots of squares accumulated. The building materials are Alminium panelsl, glasses, metal tiles and so-on which shows the modern sharp image.
(11) TOD's Omotesando building: Sore building of Italian leather maker
Itoh Toyoo designed and built in 2004
(a) Windows/Walls:
The façade is designed by the Zelkova tree silhoutte coorporarting with a row of zelkova in Omotesando street. On the wall, there are about 270 number of random openings which are made by both glasses and Alminum panels. The border between the concrete and the glass is flat which makes beautiful presence.
(12) Co-op Olympia:
Simizu Corporation designed and built in 1965.
(a) Windows/Walls:
Jagged windows to maximize the day-lightning into each room are set. The outline of the building is made by dark color tiles and silver aluminum sashes which create a calm color and make the Zelkova roadside trees be much clear appearance.
(b) Interior:
This building has not only the residence facility but also the city function including commercial facilities such as restaurants, beauty salon and so-on.
(13) Jewels of Aoyama:
Mitsui Jun & Asociate architectural design office designed and built in 2005.
(a) Architectural form:
This building consists of two tower, one is the main building with curtain walls as if it is a lattice window and the other is a corner tower with high transparent laminated glasses assembled. All the facades are set by inclined surfaces.
(b) Windows/Walls:
The curtain wall of the soft colored main building is made by steel member with the stones named limestone attached which makes a light look.
(14) SunnyHills at Minami Aoyama: The special shop of Pineapple cake:
Kuma Kengo designed and built in 2012.
(a) Architectural form:
This building is assembled by wooden frame named "Jigoku-gumi" with 2 floors above ground and 1floor below ground. This building consists of main building, west building and Dojunkai apartment. This wooden frame without using nails never be come off once assembled which is not only a ornament but also a structure to sustain the each floor.
(b) Interior:
The inside of the shop is surrounded by the wooden frames which create the space of forest and calm atmosphere.
(15) FROM-1st building, Complex commercial facility which include commercial space, office space and residence space:
Yamashita Kazumasa designed and built in 1976.
(a) Architectural form:
This building is 5 floors on above ground and 2 floors below ground with reinforced concrete, partially steel reinforced concrete, 1st floor and 3-5th floor of penthouse are assigned for residence and office which have atrium space and skylight with 45 degrees slope,
(16) Tokyu plaza Omote-sando Harajyuku:
Nakamura Takushi and Takenaka engineering firm designed.
(a) Interior:
The glasses pasted as polygon mirrors on both sides walls of the escalatoras which extengs from the entrance reflect the landscape and people moving.
If you become interested in visiting these Japanese modern architecture tour spots, please contact me. I can support you and recommend the best tour for you.
By Kashima
