Kobe Sannomiya Hankyu Building EKIZO Kobe Sannomiya

A station facility that serves as a social gathering place open to the town, recreating the symbol of Kobe Sannomiya and passing it on to the modern era

  • Public Spaces
  • A large staircase* leading from the East Building's main concourse to the ticket gates on the second floor.

    A large staircase* leading from the East Building's main concourse to the ticket gates on the second floor.

  • The former Kobe Hankyu Building (photo left), completed in 1936. It preserves the historic townscape while adapting it to modern uses.

    The former Kobe Hankyu Building (photo left), completed in 1936. It preserves the historic townscape while adapting it to modern uses.

  • The station concourse is seamlessly connected to the station plaza and roads. The historic arch structure is the key to the design, creating a space that spreads activity to the surrounding areas.

    The station concourse is seamlessly connected to the station plaza and roads. The historic arch structure is the key to the design, creating a space that spreads activity to the surrounding areas.

  • The huge arch that was a symbol of the old building has been incorporated into the interior space of the East Building's main concourse.

    The huge arch that was a symbol of the old building has been incorporated into the interior space of the East Building's main concourse.

  • A modern design pattern is added to a classical space with a succession of arches, creating a retro-modern station space that contrasts old and new.

    A modern design pattern is added to a classical space with a succession of arches, creating a retro-modern station space that contrasts old and new.

  • The restaurant area under the elevated railway is demarcated by a single blue light line. The light line increases the flow of people and invites them into the alley space.

    The restaurant area under the elevated railway is demarcated by a single blue light line. The light line increases the flow of people and invites them into the alley space.

  • The west exit concourse has preserved as much of the existing space as possible that survived the earthquake.

    The west exit concourse has preserved as much of the existing space as possible that survived the earthquake.

  • Kobe Sannomiya Hankyu Building EKIZO Kobe Sannomiya
  • The former Kobe Hankyu Building (photo left), completed in 1936. It preserves the historic townscape while adapting it to modern uses.
  • The station concourse is seamlessly connected to the station plaza and roads. The historic arch structure is the key to the design, creating a space that spreads activity to the surrounding areas.
  • The huge arch that was a symbol of the old building has been incorporated into the interior space of the East Building's main concourse.
  • A modern design pattern is added to a classical space with a succession of arches, creating a retro-modern station space that contrasts old and new.
  • The restaurant area under the elevated railway is demarcated by a single blue light line. The light line increases the flow of people and invites them into the alley space.
  • The west exit concourse has preserved as much of the existing space as possible that survived the earthquake.

Photography: Shinwa Co., Ltd., Shinji Kihara, * Taichi Misonoo / Photo courtesy of Hankyu Corporation

About the Project

Overview This is a revitalization project for Hankyu Railway Kobe-Sannomiya Station. Located in Sannomiya, the center of Kobe, this complex consists of the East Building, a skyscraper containing the Hankyu Railway station, hotel, offices, and commercial facilities, and the West Building, located under the elevated station tracks and lined with restaurants. The most important theme of this plan was the continuity of the city and the inheritance of the memory of the town, which serves as a anchor for the people who live there. The façade of the old Kobe Hankyu Building, which is the identity of the town, was regenerated at the base, and a new landmark that allows people to feel the charm of the town was created by integrated development that included the space under the elevated tracks and alleyways.
Issues/Themes The former Kobe Hankyu Building, which had been loved by local residents for nearly 60 years since the opening of Hankyu Sannomiya Station, was damaged in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It was sadly demolished, and many had been waiting for a temporary station building to be rebuilt. Our goal was not just to restore the building, but to bring back the bustle of the town that was once a place of reliance for people as a symbol of Kobe and Sannomiya, and to revive the station as a source of pride for the local people.
Space Solution/Realization We considered the station to be a "social gathering place" for the town, and designed a station space that is open to the town. The station concourse was integrated with the surrounding plaza and the road in front, which can be used for multiple purposes such as events and meetings, forming an attractive streetscape that combines old and new elements. By reorganizing the essence of the design at the time of completion, we were able to revive the bustle of the station and its surrounding area that was lost after the earthquake. We gave each area its own characteristics, with new construction and areas that made use of the existing area and kept the arrangements to a minimum, and also inherited the atmosphere and memories of the town that have accumulated over time.

Basic Information

Client Hankyu Corporation
Services Provided Architectural Design: Kume Design Co., Ltd., Obayashi Corporation
Commercial Environmental Design supervision: TANSEISHA Co., Ltd.
Our Team Design Direction: Jun Manai
Design, Layout: Yuki Hayashino
Awards KUKAN DESIGN AWARD 2022: Bronze Award for Public Living and Communication Spaces
"2022 Good Design Award"
"iF DESIGN AWARD 2023"
Special Award in the Urban Space category of the "2023 Urban Landscape Awards" (Area around Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station)
Location Hyogo Prefecture
Open April 2021
Tag
Yuki Hayashino

Design, Layout

Yuki Hayashino

With a focus on Hospitality Spaces design, we are involved in a wide range of spatial planning, Direction and design work, from highly public spaces such as hotels, museums, commercial complexes and train stations to specialty stores and restaurants.

*The shared information and details of the project is accurate as of the date they were posted. There may have been unannounced changes at a later date.

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