Architecture in Osaka

I think I’ve always liked buildings, and of many different kinds. I enjoy old temples, Greek ruins, skyscrapers, English manor houses, Japanese castles, churches, etc. I’ve been lucky enough to see some fabulous buildings over the years, but (perhaps like Prince Charles?) I don’t like boring buildings. [But, to be fair, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and what I find boring, others might actually like.] So I was attracted to Osaka’s wonderful Umeda Sky Building, pictured above, and it was the first thing I headed for after arriving.

It’s a fabulous modern building, with an observation area on top, to which I headed. Getting to the top involves going on an escalator between the two towers, however – a slightly scary experience! Here they are (one up and the other down) from the ground level:

And this is what they look like from the inside, as you are about to launch off on a ride between the towers, as well as from above, once you’ve arrived. It’s a spectacular sight and feeling. And of course I was pleased that the steps moved all by themselves, and didn’t need me to climb!

As you’ll expect, although the building is not super high (I think around 40 stories), there’s a pretty good view of the city from the observation platform at the top. Here are a few snaps to prove it. (Click on them if you wish, for a better view).

I’m embarrassed to say that I did not realise there was so much water around Osaka until I saw it from above, and nor did I know there was a downtown ferris wheel! The airport is very close to the city, and it’s always interesting to look down on planes … I watched the trains going over the railway bridge for a while: there were often three, four and even five in view at once. You can see what’s happening in a city and what it looks like from this height.

The observation area itself was interesting, as it was constructed on the ground first and then lifted to the top as a block (of more than 1000 tons!) after the towers were built! Wow! It took about seven hours, but I’m nonetheless amazed at such a feat. Apparently, it was the first building to use this technique.

Another interesting aspect was the floor below the observation deck, which had nice pods to sit in (with friends) and from which one could watch the world out there. Those of you who know my views about selfies will not be surprised at my reaction to the two young ladies, sitting up high in a coffee shop lookout of one of the world’s great buildings, with fabulous views to see, and who took a photo – of themselves! Ye gods!

Wherever I walked around and in the building, I was greeted with wonderful views, such as the following few examples. I enjoyed looking down on next-door’s helipad!

There was an interesting display in the observation area of famous buildings. This snapshot shows just a few of them (click it to see them), but you’ll probably recognise some of these (such as the Eiffel Tower, La Sagradia Familia,The Temple of Heaven, The Taj Mahal, etc.). This particular building was named by a Times of London journalist a few years back as one of the top 20 buildings in the world. No doubt others have other lists, but I certainly enjoyed seeing it and being in it briefly.

Architects, like artists and poets, deserve to be named. Bravo Hiroshi Hara!

There are many other examples of lovely architecture in Osaka, some parts of which have a great feel. For example, this is the new Osaka train station (in the background on the left). I loved the human touch of benches to sit on outside, too. And, being Japan, there is no litter at all anywhere. (People take their litter with them or deposit it in the place from which they bought it.)

The feeling of spaciousness inside newer train stations is extraordinary, as these snaps suggest. One of them at least is the Osaka station and another is the new Namba station elsewhere in the city (my recollection is hazy). It must be very satisfying to work as an architect and to be allowed to create spaces for people like these, but which nonetheless fulfilled their function as well.

Similarly, the examples below caught my imagination, too. Lovely shapes, designed for the joy of making something lovely. And of course, the mathematics is everywhere …