Urban Slalom (1991-1992)
CLIENT: A Kajima Corporation development project, for which a special subsidiary company will be formed for business management.
CONCEPT 1: A High-tech exoskeletal structural and wall system contains spiral ski gelande. The smooth gelande volume is broken by suspended condominium units and commercial functions. Materials, volumes and minimalist structure become an antithesis to a mountain.
DESIGN TEAM 1: Project overseer: Design Division Vice Manager Kazunobu Abe. Senior architect: Toshiyuki Watanabe. Project manager: Yasuharu Kiso. Design team members: A. Scott Howe, Kenji Fujita. Conceptual design & structure for this alternative: A. Scott Howe.
COST: Estimated 44.5 billion yen.
DATE: Fall 1991.
STATUS: Only conceptual design steps were taken for this alternative.
DESCRIPTION: 63,600m2 (684,700sf) indoor ski resort including commercial and residential functions to be located on a landfill man-made island in Osaka Harbor, Japan. Conceived as the next generation facility after the SSAWS facility in Chiba, Japan.
CONCEPT 2: Ski gelande is suspended between two truss walls. The gelande doubles back on itself in a 'U' shape. An outdoor event space is tucked under the high end of the gelande, and parking occurs under the lower end.
DESIGN TEAM 2: Project overseer: Design Division Vice Manager Kazunobu Abe. Senior architect: Toshiyuki Watanabe. Project manager: Yasuharu Kiso. Design team members: A. Scott Howe, Kenji Fujita. Structural design: Shigeru Ban.
