In Tokyo, one of the world’s most congested cities, the Tokyo Midtown project’s guiding principle is a revolutionary one: the design is structured around the idea of open space.

Half the project's 10 hectares are open, and open space remains the development's dominant feature - a startling departure from the Japanese urban vernacular. Traditional Japanese landscapes emphasize privacy and contemplation, but don’t usually encourage active use. Tokyo Midtown’s great lawn, however, invites picnicking, sunbathing, and social interaction.

AECOM’s design builds upon and emphasizes the site’s lush, mature tree canopy. A historic stream that once traversed the area is reinterpreted as a contemporary, romanticized water feature, drawing people into the park and leading down through meandering pathways to the 21_21 Design Museum, the Great Lawn, and the traditional Japanese Garden.

Situated at the intersection of two main roads in the Roppongi district, the 25-acre project includes the second-tallest building in Japan, Class-A office space, and high-end shopping. All the park’s pathways are constructed of permeable paving, reducing runoff and pollution of the local water table. In addition, all exterior lighting fixtures use light-emitting diode (LED) fittings to reduce energy consumption. The project also employs green roofs and solar paneling.

Tokyo Midtown establishes connections between the city streets and the park’s green spaces, rooting the development not only in nature but also in its surrounding urban context. As industry journal Topos noted, all the design elements reinforce the idea of interconnectedness – “of time (past and present), of character (urban and naturalistic), of culture (Japanese and Western), and of uses (hard pavement and soft park).“

Forty mature cherry trees were preserved and transplanted on site, creating a "cherry promenade." And, in cherry-blossom season – traditionally a time of celebration in Japan – thousands of visitors flock to the park, attracted by the beauty of the trees.