Laguarda.Low Architects designs Grandberry Lifestyle Center in Machida

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

Laguarda.Low Architects has unveiled the design for Grandberry Center, a new 750,000-square-foot transit-oriented development in Machida, Tokyo. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Laguarda.Low designed Grandberry Center to be the center of commerce and activity for Machida – a city in the west section of the Tokyo Metropolis.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

The new Grandberry Center development replaces an existing mall and train station and creates a modern, landscaped shopping village with a direct connection to the newly-designed Tsuruma Park. The new train depot, with its undulating roof, tiered gardens, and waterfall create a dramatic sense of arrival.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

From the platform, a grand stair leads visitors to the multi-level shopping center experience, inclusive of a local food market, retail stores and a cinema. The retail village is organized as a simple loop, referencing a European town typology, with parking positioned in the center.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

Throughout the loop, visitors traverse a series of open and covered plazas that provide dynamic spaces for socializing, leisure and entertainment. The buildings are composed of a mix of stone, steel, wood, glass and green walls.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

The form, scale, and materiality of the buildings were designed to create variation within the development and to blend with the surrounding residential neighborhood. Situated amidst Tsuruma Park, Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Center with nature.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

To combine the two parcels, a new park entrance transforms the natural slope in grade into a dramatic stair, with the ground rising to create a green roof for a new restaurant at the threshold of the park.

Grandberry Lifestyle Center
Image © Laguarda.Low Architects

The firm also designed the main promenade, which features lush Cherry Blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, sculpture garden, children’s playground, expansive lawn and library. Construction of Grandberry Center will begin in May 2017, with an estimated completion of September 2019. Source and images, Courtesy of Laguarda.Low Architects.

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