Aiming for the Creation of New Space: Development of Tokyo Station City

In this article the author describes a new urban design space concept called “Tokyo Station City” which will be promoted in Japan’s downtown Tokyo region along Gyoko-dori Avenue up to the city’s Imperial Palace. The current rail station, which serves an average of 380,000 people per day, is faced with increasing traffic demands. Additional issues, such as infrastructure improvement and the need for a land use policy that can meet development demand around the station also prompted the formation of the development plan. Three projects toward the design concept are described: 1) the plan for new traffic linkage and towers at the Yaesu exit, 2) a new building at the Nihonbashi exit called the Sapia Tower, and, 3) the restoration of the earthquake and war damaged Marunouchi Brick Station Building. The goal of the project is to create an urban space that can be used by all Tokyo citizens rather than solely station personnel and passengers.