Kyoto Station, Kyoto
The Kyoto Station, built for the 1200th anniversary of Tokyo's foundation as a city. Designed by Hara Hiroshi in a controversial competition, this mega-structure is the grand arterial center that combines a subway station with other functions such as department store, food court, rooftop garden, hotels, and etc. Of course, this controversial building is not exactly efficient, with 15 story roof that envelops a largely empty, open-air plaza. The numerous sets of stairs, while providing potential space for loungers to sit on and have picnics, just read a book, wait for your friends, or be lovey-dovey with their significant others, also alarmed the critics of its contradiction against the powerful Japanese ethics of efficiency both in terms of site, space, and materials.
In the processional movement through the escalators or the stairs, one can reach the small rooftop space which has framed glass walls to allow views towards the cityscape and enjoy the limited green-space which decorates the "Happy Court." Then not too far from the architecture is the Kyoto Tower, whose tower- tallest in Kyoto- cowers over the entire city. Interesting relationship between the two pieces of architecture is discovered while exploring the Kyoto Station, where the Tower is framed and ensued time after time in thousand different angles.
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