Historic lodging house "Hongokan" to be demolished in August

hongokan-exterior-1

Built in 1905, Hongokan is Japan's oldest 3-storey wooden lodging house. The L-shaped building has approximately 70 rooms and a total floorspace of 1500 sqm which is very large in scale for a wooden structure.

It was built by an aristocratic family from Gifu Prefecture and was initially used as a boarding house for the Tokyo Girl's Highschool (now known as Ochanomizu Women's College), but soon became a high-grade lodging house that provided luxury accommodation.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Harajuku Danchi Reconstruction Plans

Nippon Steel City Produce and Mitsui are redeveloping the Harajuku Danchi apartments alongside Gaien Nishidori in Shibuya-ku's Jingumae 3 Chome neighborhood.

The original 6 buildings were completed in 1957. The buildings were considered modern for their time and were a landmark for the area. Due to aging and deterioration, reconstruction plans were made and the apartments were vacated in 2010.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Reconstruction vs. long-life maintenance. What is the fate of your apartment?

The condominium market is facing a dilemma - to rebuild or to maintain.

The Japanese Government has enacted laws promoting both long-life construction methods and reconstruction. While there is the Basic Act for Housing and the Law on Promoting the Spread of Long-term Housing to ensure and improve stable housing and to promote the construction long-lasting buildings, there are also laws such as the Apartment Reconstruction Facilitation Law to enable and support building reconstruction.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Nomura to rebuild two apartments in Shirokanedai

Nomura Real Estate Development announced that they have the tender to re-build two adjacent condominium apartments in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Akasaka Prince Hotel Redevelopment Plans Announced

Akasaka Prince Hotel

Due to aging, increasing maintenance and competition from  foreign-owned hotels, the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka will close in March, 2011 and will be demolished. Of the three buildings on the site, the oldest building dating from 1930 will be kept.

The current 139m 40-storey hotel was designed by Kenzo Tange and opened in 1983. It was hugely popular during the bubble, but lack of adequate maintenance and the introduction of foreign hotels to the market in the last decade has greatly reduced its appeal.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Two large scale redevelopments for Minato-ku in 2011

Two large scale redevelopment projects in Minato-ku are about to commence in 2011.

Sumitomo Realty & Development are planning for their "Roppongi 3 Chome East District Redevelopment" project. The total development size will be 200,000sqm (2,152,000 sqft).

Meanwhile, Kowa Real Estate are planning their "Akasaka 1 Chome District Redevelopment" project with a total area of 170,000sqm (1,829,200 sqft).Read more

by Zoe Ward

JVC Kenwood to tear down Japan's first Victor factory

yokohama-victor-factory-facade-1

The Victor Company of Japan (part of JVC Holdings) has applied to Yokohama City for approval to demolish the first Victor factory in Japan. The "Victor Company of Japan No. 1 Factory Facade" was completed in 1930.Read more

by Zoe Ward