De Beers Ginza Building

De Beers Ginza Building - Architects: Jun Mitsui & Associates Architects

Area: 4022 m² & Year: 2008

Ginza is one of the most famous commercial districts even in the world. Marronnier Street is a gracious, active street lined with creatively designed buildings. The De Beers Ginza Building design is intended to reflect the sophisticated Ginza streetscape and fit appropriately into this dynamic context.

In the process of the design, the first image that came to mind was a twisting form of light in motion. A ribbon of light coming out of the earth sparkles in the atmosphere as an aurora with ever-changing color and form. The Dw Beers Ginza building representing gracious light like aurora was felt most appropriate for the site.

The fluid and flexible form of the building was also inspired by the beauty of the female outline. The sparkling light on the surface of the gently curved form of the building subtly suggests the shimmering reflection of diamond.　This was the aesthetic essence of the De Beers Ginza building design.

The expression of the curtain wall varies continuously as it ascends and as it reflects the ever-changing appearance of the sky. The exterior surface of the building reflects the sunlight and Ginza city lights in a subtle way and the impression of the façade as time passes. On the exterior of the building, specially-finished stainless steel pipes are horizontally laid-out creating sparkles of light throughout the surface of the building.

Throughout history, the Ginza district has been an incubator for design trends reflecting the changing times. I hope that the De BeersGinza building becomes an integral part of Ginza history. Its design is intended to reflect the excitement and importance of Ginza’s ever-changing appearance.

Photographs:Naoomi Kurozumi & Text description provided by the architects.