Cocoon Tower by kuracom is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
This week’s crazy building is the Cocoon Tower in Tokyo, Japan. It was completed in 2008 and is the home of 3 educational institutions. At 669 feet tall, it is the 2nd tallest educational building in the world and Tokyo’s 17th tallest building. It can accommodate 10,000 students. In 2008 it was awarded Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.
The Gakuen company held a contest for the building’s design and 150 architects responded; the only rule was that the building could not be rectangular. The concept behind the winning design was that a cocoon like shape is a symbol of nurturing the students inside. White aluminum and dark blue glass form the outside and the criss-cross pattern which was a major reason for the nickname Cocoon Tower.
In a country which contains both ancient and cutting edge, the Cocoon Tower is a prime example of how creative thinking drives the landscape of a city, ushering in a new chapter of life.
