Japan Sustainable Building Database

Project Outline

Tokyo Gas Kohoku New Town building, which is called “Earthport”, was completed in March 1996, with a concept of “a life-cycle energy-saving office building”. It includes the idea of reducing the load on the global environment over the life of the building, from the time of its construction till the ime of its demolition. We intend to extend building life, while satisfying both energy saving efforts and interior amenities. The Building Core and other rooms such as office space are generally separated. In this case, the building core (stairs, elevators and halls) is connected to the showroom and it functions as an atrium which leads to each floor. This vertical wide atrium is called “Ecological Core”, because it is architecturally symbolic as well as working as the key factor for natural energy use systems such as natural lighting and natural ventilation, by chimney effect.

Basic Information

[CASBEE rank]	S  ()
[CASBEE tool used]	CASBEE for Existing Building (2004 edition)
[Location]	16-18 Chigasaki Chuo, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama
[Completion date]	1996
[Site area]	2,499 m2
[Total floor area]	5,645 m2
[Structure]	SRC
[Floors]	4 floors above ground / 1 penthouse floor
[Owner]	Tokyo Gas Urban Development
[Designer]	Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
[Contractor]	Kumagai Gumi

Information for visitors

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Publication

N/A

Awards

• Nikkei New Office Awards / New Office Promotion Prize 1996
• Good Design Award 1996
• Superior Energy-Saving Equipment Commendations / Chairman’s Prize 1997
• 7th Environment and Energy Conservation Awards / Construction Minister’s Prize 1997
• Inter-Intra Space Design Selection / Design Award 1997
• 42nd Kanagawa Pref. Superior Architecture Commendations / Prize of Excellence 1997
• SHASE Awards / 36th Technology Prize for Construction Equipment 1998
• Architectural Institute of Japan / Selected Works 1998
• 2nd JIA Environment Architectural Awards / Prize of Excellence 2001
• 7th SHASE Special Awards / Ten-Year Prize 2007