#attraction [Kuchu Teien (梅田スカイビル 空中庭園)](https://www.skybldg.co.jp/observatory/) is an observatory on top of the [Umeda Sky Building](https://www.skybldg.co.jp/) in [[Osaka (大阪市)]].%% TK-subway-stop%% ![[kuchu teien IMG_5742.png]] > [!NOTE] I. Mid-air Garden > The architectural design of Umeda Sky Building began with 'First Sketch' a 1988 artwork by the architect Hiroshi Hara. In the sketch, four high-rise buildings covered with mirror glass are depicted as if they are dissolving into the sky with the top part named 'Mid-air Garden' apparently floating in the air. > > Among mid-air gardens or hanging gardens, the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, are well known. According to Hiroshi Hara, the 'Hanging Garden Illusion' is shared in the deep consciousness of people, beyond time, beyond regions. It is a world yet to be seen that spreads beyond the point where architecture grows into the sky, and it also depicts the emotions of people seeking such a world. > > Skyscrapers in the world stop at a competing height. Hiroshi Hara presented a question in such circumstances: "Where did the yearning for height lose elegance?" The key phrase of Umeda Sky Building is to actualize an 'Eden spreading in the sky', that is, a 'Mid-air Garden'. > [!NOTE] IV. Lift-up Construction Method > 1. Skyscraper steel framed erection / Exterior finish / Kuchu-Teien steel frame semi assembly > 2. Kuchu-Teien exterior finish, Eaves soffit finish > 3. Lifting up Kuchu-Teien \[0.3m/minute, time required approx. 10 hours\] > 4. Fixing Kuchu-Teien \[time required approx. 1 hour\] > 5. Connection part exterior finish, Eaves soffit finish > 6. Lifting up mid-air elevator \[1.4m/minute\] > 7. Lifting up mid-air escalator \[1.4m/minute\] > 8. Lifting up mid-air bridge \[1.4m/minute\] > > As for the work, the construction team led by Takenaka Corporation made use of the so-called lift-up construction method by means of cables. The Mid-air Garden weighing 1,040 tons was first assembled at ground level and then lifted up using four winches to an altitude of 150m at the rate of 35cm per minute. All told, it took approximately seven hours. The mid-air escalators and mid-air bridge were dealt with in the same way. This was the world's first case where such a method was applied in a full-scale construction project. ![[kuchu teien IMG_5751.png]] > [!NOTE] VI. Earthquake resistance and evacuation system of interconnected skyscrapers > Earthquakes often occur in Japan, where four tectonie plates encroach upon each other > > Connected buildings have more stability, just as two persons in a moving train holding hands together are more stable than one standing alone > > Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. This structural system, which connects the top parts of multiple buildings, excels at resistance to earthquakes, somehow symbolizing the fate of Japan. It makes use of the same principle as "in a moving train, two persons holding hands together are more stable than one person standing alone". Also connecting at the top and middle parts ensures multiple secure evacuation routes in case of fire, etc., so the system is excellent from the viewpoint of disaster prevention. ![[kuchu teien IMG_5749.png]] > [!NOTE] VII. Architectural outline > Name of the architecture **Umeda Sky Building, Shin Umeda City** > Business proprietors **Sekisui House Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, Daihatsu Diesel Mfg. Co., Ltd.** > Planning **Shin Umeda City Development Council** > Supervision **Sekisui House, Ltd.** > Design and supervision **Hiroshi Hara + Atelier Ф, Toshihiko Kimura Structural Design Firm, Takenaka Corporation** > Landscape **Motoo Yoshimura + Environment Dynamics Architect** > Construction **Joint venture by Takenaka Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation, Aoki Construction Co., Ltd.** > Maintenance, Management and Operation **Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co., Ltd.** > Area **41,782.75m²** > Total floor area **216,308.48m² (including hotel building)** > Floors **Two basement floors, 40 floors above ground** > Highest point of the building **172.95m** > Completion year **1993** We took an elevator up to [Kuchu Teien (梅田スカイビル 空中庭園)](https://www.skybldg.co.jp/observatory/). To get to the main part of the observatory, we also took an escalator up with a nice view of [[Osaka (大阪市)]]. ![[kuchu teien IMG_5784.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5761.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5766.png]] Needless to say, the main attraction of this observatory was the 360° views of [[Osaka (大阪市)]]. ![[kuchu teien IMG_9887.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5745.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5747.png]]![[kuchu teien IMG_7445.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7449.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5765.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_5769.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7496.png]] While we were visiting, it seemed like there was some sort of themed exhibit with a variety of decorated cakes. ![[kuchu teien IMG_7472.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7473.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7474.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7475.png]] ![[kuchu teien IMG_7476.png]]