Design The steel-based building is essentially "a stack of separate wooden buildings that have been piled up on top of each other at different angles", according to architecture media company
Architizer. The exterior focuses mostly on wood (mainly
Japanese cedar) and glass, which reflects traditional Japanese architecture while adding a contemporary twist. Due to Tokyo's infamy in the past as being prone to fire, Kuma processed the wood first to make sure it was fireproof. When designing the center, Kuma was reminded of the traditional
nagaya houses from Tokyo's
Edo period, stacking a more modern version of these dwellings on top of each other, trying to create an unbalanced void in between each of the floors. The windows have black curtains to add to the depth of the building and the windows are double glazed to have
low emissivity.
Amenities The center contains a café, an exhibition space, a
currency exchange, a conference hall, free
Wi-Fi, computers, and restrooms. The exhibition space, on the seventh floor, presents panels that display the history of Asakusa and Taitō. The eighth floor is a covered observation deck. There, people can experience views of
Sensō-ji,
Sumida River, the
Tokyo Skytree, and the
Asahi Beer Hall. Miharashi Café, on the same floor, offers light refreshments. ==Notes==