Umeda Sky Building

The nihongo|Umeda Sky Building|梅田スカイビル|Umeda Sukai Biru is the seventh-tallest building in Osaka City, Japan, and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the center.

Located in the Umeda district of Kita-ku, the building was originally conceived in 1988 as the "City of Air" project, which planned to create four interconnected towers in northern Osaka. Eventually, practical considerations brought the number of towers down to two.

The 173 m (568 ft) building was designed by Hiroshi Hara. It was constructed by Takenaka Corporation and was completed in 1993.

The building features a rooftop observatory, "The Floating Garden Observatory", as well as an underground market that attempts to recreate the atmosphere of Osaka in the early 20th century. At the base of the towers is an urban garden with walking trails and water features.

Popular culture

The Umeda Sky Building was featured as a renovated skyscraper in the computer game Simcity 3000.

The Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building was visited in Leg 10 of Amazing Race 12.

External links

* [http://www.skybldg.co.jp/ Umeda Sky Building] ja icon, Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co.
* [http://www.skybldg.co.jp/garden/e/ Outline of Shin Umeda City] , Sekisui House Umeda Operation Co.
* [http://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e/t-file_e/d_synthesis/umeda/ Umeda Sky Buildings] , Takenaka Corporation