RiverWalk Kitakyushu

Cultural destination

RiverWalk creates a new identity and a symbol of civic pride and urban cohesion for Kitakyushu. Designed to be a communal destination and cultural center for the high and popular arts, it combines cultural institutions, performance halls and cinemas with office, retail, dining and nightclub facilities in a 1.6-million square-foot district

At a Glance

Project Type

Retail, Open/Public Space

Location

Kitakyushu, Japan

Size

1,615,000 sq ft

Client

Muromachi I-Chome Area Urban Development Associates

Executive Architect

Nihon Sekkei, Inc., FJUD

Services

Architecture

Awards

American Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design

Kitakyushu Urban Beautification Award, Mayor of Fukuoka

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Merging place with objects, RiverWalk unifies the city's individual districts through a collection of five iconic objects, each representing one of the city's five districts designed to work together holistically.

The project serves as a physical connector for the city, linking to the traditional retail center and light rail.
The project serves as a physical connector for the city, linking to the traditional retail center and light rail.
The walkways integrate the project into the local context while giving it an iconic presence.
The walkways integrate the project into the local context while giving it an iconic presence.
With its organic, individual forms, the building mass is broken down into smaller, sculptural pieces to better accommodate varied programmatic elements.
With its organic, individual forms, the building mass is broken down into smaller, sculptural pieces to better accommodate varied programmatic elements.
The project's aesthetics are defined by the mystical carved shapes of volcanic canyons and primal forms—and by the spaces between, which enhance the experience of the user.
The project's aesthetics are defined by the mystical carved shapes of volcanic canyons and primal forms—and by the spaces between, which enhance the experience of the user.
Color is used to reflect the traditions of Japanese culture: yellow represents wheat; brown, the earth; and white, the purity of life.
Color is used to reflect the traditions of Japanese culture: yellow represents wheat; brown, the earth; and white, the purity of life.
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RiverWalk creates a new place that is aesthetically and technologically modern, yet rooted in the cultural traditions and nature of Japan.

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