Located at the edge of Tokyo, the Futakotamagawa Rise Galleria had the misfortune of being completed just six days after the Great Hanshin Earthquake jolted Japan on March 11, 2011. Though the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami did not physically impact the city, they triggered a nuclear crisis that caused drastic energy-conservation measures nationwide. Lighting designer Hiroyasu Shoji of the Tokyo-based Lightdesign had to revamp the complex’s outdoor illumination before it ever had the chance to shine.
The Galleria comprises a pair of buildings containing shops and offices spanned by a covered court. A joint venture of the Research Institute of Architecture, Tokyu Architects & Engineers, and Nihon Sekkei, the project aims to transform a quiet, low-scale transportation node adjacent to Futakotamagawa Station into a thriving commercial center. Shoji’s scheme begins at the station’s busy ticket gates, where LED downlights installed in a low ceiling provide the light level of 600 lux (lumens per square meter), or 56 footcandles (lumens per square foot), needed for safety and function. The atmosphere changes as the station flows into the Galleria’s soaring 131-foot-high glass-topped central space, where the light softens to a more welcoming 500 lux (46 footcandles).
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.