Forum Speakers

Canal City Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan, 1996

In the late 1980s, the city of Fukuoka was struggling with a massive influx of people, a dying shopping district, and no sense of community. Jerde responded with Canal City Hakata, the largest, privately developed project in Japan's history. Canal City Hakata used water and nature to establish a unique destination for the city. The project's mix of uses also created a commercial success. In the first year, more than 16 million people visited, sales exceeded $500 million, the cinema captured 55 percent of the city's box office sales, and the theater sold out every performance. Success carried outside too. The neighboring, historic shopping arcade reversed years of decline thanks to increased foot traffic. Cinema attendance citywide rose 50 percent. And Fukuoka was dubbed AsiaWeek's "Best City in Asia" in 1997.

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan, 2003

When Osaka's baseball stadium closed its doors, it opened the door to a prime redevelopment opportunity in a new commercial district adjacent to Namba Train Station, the first stop from Kansai Airport. Given the location, owner Nankai Electric Railway asked Jerde to create a gateway that would redefine Osaka's identity. So Jerde conceived Namba Parks as a large park, a natural intervention in Osaka's dense and harsh urban condition. Alongside a 30-story tower, the project features a lifestyle commercial center crowned with a rooftop park that crosses multiple blocks while gradually ascending eight levels. In addition to providing a highly visible green component in a city where nature is sparse, the sloping park connects to the street, welcoming passers-by to enjoy its groves of trees, clusters of rocks, cliffs, lawn, streams, waterfalls, ponds and outdoor terraces. Beneath the park, a canyon carves an experiential path through specialty retail, entertainment and dining venues. Namba Parks creates a new natural experience for Osaka that celebrates the interaction of people, culture and recreation.

La Cittadella, Kawasaki, Japan, 2003

La Cittadella is the new heart of Kawasaki Japan and the first step toward rejuvenating the surrounding area. The site of the city's famous and newly relocated Club Citta, La Cittadella combines dining, shopping, cinema and nightclubs into a new place that will define the urban experience for residents and visitors. La Cittadella features a gently sloped hillclimb circulation that carries visitors effortlessly from the street level, past cafes, shops and restaurants to the upper-level entertainment district. The cascading design is layered with landscaped terraces, bridges and stepped gardens along with rich colors and textures. Organized into three districts that create round-the-clock activity, future phases of the project include additional retail and plans for a 14-level residential tower. In addition to meeting developer Kawasaki Misu's goal to create a new and better image for the property and add fresh energy and vigor to the city through entertainment and culture, La Cittadella fulfills the city of Kawasaki's urban design plan to create projects that beautify and define the amenities within its urban space.