Global skyscrapers: Cocoon Tower in Japan - luxury for students
The architects had one condition for their competition designs: the building could not be rectangular. Of the 150 proposals from 50 architects, the winning design was a building shaped like a cocoon from Tange Associates: Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, which gave a new home to the fashion, information and technology and medical schools.
Cocoon Tower: Luxury location for students and public
The low-storey building shaped like an egg, which is adjacent to a high tower, houses rooms which can be used both by the schools and the public. They can contain up to 1,000 people and host cultural and educational events.
Each floor of the skyscraper consists of 3 rectangular parts with classrooms, which rotate at an angle of 120° around the inner core. The tower has 50 floors and a height of 204 metres. It is an inspiring environment for students with unlimited views of the sky. The inner core contains the elevators, stairwells and shafts.
On every third floors between the classrooms are three-storey student lounges for relaxation and communication among students, which offer a luxurious space with stunning views of the surrounding city skyline.
Main goal: strengthen the community in Shinjuku
The main goal of the project was to strengthen community. The building is in a location which serves as a gateway between Tokyo’s largest Shinjuku station and the eponymous central commercial district. There are many passages and underpasses which allow freedom of movement for pedestrians.
The luxurious building was designed with respect for the environment. The elliptical shape allows the even distribution of sunlight and the aerodynamic spreading of wind currents. It is the second highest academic building in the world, surpassed only by the State University in Moscow.
