SHIBUYA SKY by RHIZOMATIKS
Name of Company or Individual: RHIZOMATIKS
Country: JAPAN
Website: https://rhizomatiks.com/
Project Name: SHIBUYA SKY
Project Completion Date: 11/1/2019
Project Completed City: Shibuya
Architecture Division: -
Interior Division: Leisure and wellness
“SHIBUYA SKY” is a 360-degree view observatory that takes place at a height of 229 meters in the center of Shibuya, Tokyo overlooking the chaotic Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It aims to be a place to stimulate the curiosity of visitors and nurture the imagination for the future.
The experience is structured by three zones. The first zone is where connects from the 14th-floor entrance to the 45th floor “SKY GATE”, the second zone is the outdoor rooftop observatory “SKY STAGE”, and the third zone is the indoor corridor exhibition “SKY GALLERY” on the 46th floor.
“SKY GATE” is designed to be a place to separate visitors from everyday life, shift their attention to internal selves and reflect. The experience includes the facility entrance to an elevator hall, a high-speed elevator, and a final escalator to the rooftop observatory. Sound from over 70 speakers that are installed on the wall helps visitors to elevate the anxiousness of crossing a border of ordinary life.
The outdoor rooftop “SKY GATE” is a space where you are completely released from the anxiousness you have previously experienced at “SKY GATE”. Visitors are surrounded by a 360-degree view of the city and are free to explore as they like. The wood deck starts from the center and the tip is highlighted by a contrasting material. There are also hammocks where people can lay down and grow their imagination. The Shibuya-centred world map is placed there to help visitors relate to the place. There are also searchlights pointing to the sky at night with sounds in order to demonstrate the proximity to the sky.
“SKY GALLERY” is an exhibition for visitors to realize another point of view by applying digital art. Visitors can see their reflections in the window with Shibuya scenery as well as visualized information of big data around the area. This experience becomes more remarkable after releasing emotions at SKY STAGE.
The whole experience of SKY GATE, SKY STAGE, and SKY GALLERY recreates the ritual of pilgrimage-like spiritual ceremony, moving away from everyday life, experiencing extraordinary, and moving back to reality.
Historically, human has been always climbing towards the sky to experience different scenery, air, and atmosphere. You can see far to feel released and see your feet to recognize yourself. It is the nature of humans to have a desire to see the unseen and know the unknown. The observatory is there to satisfy this desire. By grabbing the reality from extraordinary, we can finally imagine the future ahead.
