Discovered in Marunouchi! “Tokyo International Forum” with a huge ship’s bottom created by glass and steel frames & the art of light and shadow

“Tokyo International Forum” is the convention and art center, one of the venues for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. It was built on the ruins where Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building used to be in 1997, and now, plays an important role as a base for cultural activities, information exchange and creation and international exchange. Here, there are 8 large and small halls and shops, restaurants, an art museum and so on. From among them, this time, we’re going to introduce “Glass Building” looking like a huge ship’s bottom.

Receiving high evaluations in the world in terms of architecture, “Glass Building” is one of Tokyo’s landmarks and popular as a photogenic spot. It got 39th BCS Prize from Building Contractors Society in 1998 and is ranked with three stars for the Glass Building in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Stepping into the building, you will find a stairwell with a height of about 60m. When you look up, the ceiling looking as if it’s a bottom of a ship will catch your eyes. It’s made of glass and steel frames. To our surprise, the number of glass used on the walls is about 2,600. You’re sure to be overwhelmed by the scale -the total length is about 207m and the maximum width is about 32m. In addition, the gentle sunlight shining down through the glass engulfs the overall building. The pattern of light and shadow reflected on the walls and floor is like an art decorating the space.

On the 1st floor where countless timbers arranged on the wall in a vertical grid pattern, the warms of woods and the sunlight are blended and create an elegant Japanese atmosphere. This space shows many faces depending on the shooting height and angle, so why not walk around here and take your favorite photo?