MUFG Global Learning Center

Yokohama, Japan

Photo © Koji Okumura

Plazas

Landscape Architects: STGK Inc. | studio gen kumagai

Location: Yokohama, Japan
Year: 2015
Architecture: Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei

The site is located at Minato Mirai 21 area in Yokohama, a business district where most of the area is landfilled and with less greenery. The learning center is new building for the group’s job training and it was required that the outdoor void must be designed for worker’s recreation, representing the groups philosophy at the same time. Taking advantage of its vertical interval, the landscape of the building was planned with the theme of “The HILL”, which provide lush greenery and scenic views.
The composition of the garden consists of “vertical” and “horizon”. To enhance horizontal composition, each floor has different views. With these views, people could enjoy their break and conversation with fresh air, as if they spend a time on a hill. The line pattern of the floors indicates directions and its distance to the world’s major cities. It expresses the vision of the group that have been expanding their business worldwide.
For vertical composition, trees are planted along stairs to create continuous greenery from floor to floor. Wide variety of trees also has a rule as a filter to soften the sunlight and bring fresh wind from outside of the architecture.