Gifu City Tower 43

Gifu City Tower 43 is a mixed-use skyscraper in the Hashimoto-chō area of Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Positioned immediately north and west of JR Gifu Station, it combines private housing, senior-citizen residences, broadcasting, medical and welfare facilities, commercial space, parking, a public observation facility, and a restaurant within a single high-rise development. The tower is the tallest building in Gifu Prefecture, rising 163 metres and containing 43 above-ground floors. The project emerged from the Gifu Station West Area Urban Redevelopment Group, whose planning work began in 1983. It formed part of a wider effort to redevelop land around the station and create a more concentrated urban center connected to rail, commerce, housing, and public amenities. Construction formally began on January 8, 2005, and the completed building opened on October 13, 2007. The tower occupies a site of approximately 11,000 square metres, has a footprint of about 5,412 square metres, and provides approximately 57,600 square metres of total floor space. Its structure is predominantly reinforced concrete. The building's design was intended to express local history and culture rather than function as an anonymous high-rise. Its upper observatory references Gifu Castle, which is associated with the historical figures Saitō Dōsan and Oda Nobunaga. Decorative elements inspired by Gifu lanterns are incorporated into the exterior, while vertical lines on the building are arranged to evoke the character 井, reflecting Inokuchi, an earlier name associated with Gifu, and the character used as the city's symbol. Motifs associated with cormorant-fishing boats further connect the contemporary tower with a traditional activity strongly identified with the city. The 43rd floor contains the city-operated Sky Lounge, consisting of a public observatory and the Zetton restaurant. The observation area provides elevated views over Gifu and the surrounding region and is reached by a dedicated elevator from the lower floors in roughly 45 seconds. The residential component occupies floors 15 through 42 and contains 243 privately owned condominiums divided into Superior Stage, Premium Stage, and Executive Stage categories. The higher categories occupy the upper floors and offer larger layouts, while the lower residential tiers provide a broader range of unit sizes. Floors 6 through 14 contain La Sur Maison, a senior-living residential facility operated by the Gifu Prefectural Housing Corporation. Gifu Broadcasting System, Inc. and other commercial tenants occupy the fourth floor, with broadcasting operations beginning on November 11, 2007. Medical and welfare facilities are located on the third floor, and further commercial establishments occupy the first and second floors. Underground parking provides 56 public spaces, while an adjacent garage offers 192 spaces for tower residents and shares an entrance arrangement with the west parking garage serving JR Gifu Station. A rooftop damper was installed to reduce building vibration during earthquakes, with the stated design objective of reducing such motion by approximately 20 percent. Through its combination of transit-oriented redevelopment, residential accommodation, public viewing facilities, and cultural references, Gifu City Tower 43 functions both as a real-estate development and as a recognizable civic landmark for Gifu.

Planning for Gifu City Tower 43 began in 1983 under the Gifu Station West Area Urban Redevelopment Group. The initiative was conceived as part of the redevelopment of land around JR Gifu Station, with the goal of combining housing, commerce, public services, and transportation access in a compact urban setting. Rather than developing a single-purpose office tower, the project was structured as a vertically integrated complex with private residences, senior housing, commercial premises, public facilities, and a visitor attraction. Construction officially started on January 8, 2005. The completed structure contains 43 floors above ground and reaches 163 metres, making it the tallest building in Gifu Prefecture. It stands on a site of roughly 11,000 square metres and provides approximately 57,600 square metres of floor space. Reinforced concrete forms the principal structural material. A rooftop damper was incorporated into the design to mitigate earthquake-related vibrations, with an intended reduction of around 20 percent. The architectural concept draws on Gifu's historical symbols and traditions. The upper observatory was designed with the city's Gifu Castle in mind, linking the tower to the castle's associations with Saitō Dōsan and Oda Nobunaga. Exterior elements refer to Gifu lanterns, while vertical lines on the building evoke the character 井. This reference connects the tower with Inokuchi, a former name associated with Gifu, and with the character used as the city's symbol. Cormorant-fishing-boat motifs provide another local reference and help combine contemporary high-rise construction with regional cultural imagery. Gifu City Tower 43 officially opened on October 13, 2007. Its 43rd floor became home to the Sky Lounge, operated by the city and comprising an observation area and the Zetton restaurant. The observatory was made accessible through a dedicated elevator from the first and second floors, allowing visitors to reach the top floor in approximately 45 seconds. The facility gave the tower a public and tourism-oriented role in addition to its residential and commercial functions. The principal residential section extends from the 15th to the 42nd floor and contains 243 private condominiums. These are organized into Superior Stage units on floors 15 through 28, Premium Stage units on floors 29 through 39, and Executive Stage units on floors 40 through 42. Unit sizes and layouts vary by category, with the upper tiers generally offering larger homes and more spacious configurations. Floors 6 through 14 accommodate 108 senior residences under La Sur Maison, operated by the Gifu Prefectural Housing Corporation. Other parts of the building support the surrounding community and local economy. Medical and welfare facilities occupy the third floor. Gifu Broadcasting System, Inc. and additional commercial establishments are located on the fourth floor, with broadcasting operations beginning on November 11, 2007. Shops and other commercial premises occupy the first and second floors. Underground parking includes 56 spaces for public use, while a separate adjacent garage provides 192 spaces for residents and is connected operationally with the west parking garage serving JR Gifu Station. Since its opening, the tower has served as a prominent visual marker for Gifu and as a concentrated example of station-centered urban redevelopment. Its importance derives not only from its height but also from the combination of private housing, senior accommodation, commerce, public viewing facilities, broadcasting, and community services. The building remains an active mixed-use landmark rather than a conventional single-function skyscraper.

• 2007

  Tower officially opens

  [1]Gifu City Tower 43en.wikipedia.org

  Gifu City Tower 43 opens on October 13 as the tallest building in Gifu Prefecture.

• 2007

  Broadcasting operations begin

  [1]Gifu City Tower 43en.wikipedia.org

  Gifu Broadcasting System begins broadcasting from facilities in the tower on November 11.

• 2005

  Construction starts

  [1]Gifu City Tower 43en.wikipedia.org

  Formal construction of the tower begins on January 8.

• 1983

  Planning begins

  [1]Gifu City Tower 43en.wikipedia.org

  The Gifu Station West Area Urban Redevelopment Group begins planning the station-adjacent mixed-use development that would become Gifu City Tower 43.

A station-adjacent, mixed-use civic landmark that integrates high-rise housing, senior living, commercial and welfare services, broadcasting, and a publicly accessible observatory while expressing Gifu's historical and cultural identity.

• Observation facility and restaurant · 2007

  Sky Lounge

  The city-operated public facility on the 43rd floor combines an observation area with the Zetton restaurant. The observatory provides views across Gifu and nearby areas, while the restaurant has outlooks primarily toward the south and west. A dedicated elevator connects the lower floors with the Sky Lounge.

• Residential real estate · 2007

  Private condominiums

  The tower contains 243 private condominium units across floors 15 to 42. They are arranged in Superior Stage, Premium Stage, and Executive Stage groupings, with layouts ranging from compact two-bedroom homes to larger four-bedroom residences. The upper categories occupy the highest residential floors and include the building's largest units.

• Senior-citizen housing · 2007

  La Sur Maison

  La Sur Maison occupies floors 6 through 14 and provides 108 senior residences. The facility is operated by the Gifu Prefectural Housing Corporation and forms part of the development's combination of private housing with age-oriented residential and welfare services.

• Mixed-use services · 2007

  Commercial, medical, welfare, and broadcasting facilities

  The lower and middle sections of the tower contain shops and other commercial establishments, medical and welfare facilities, and premises used by Gifu Broadcasting System. These uses reinforce the building's role as a station-area service hub rather than solely a residential tower.

• 2007

  Open the Sky Lounge as a public attractionProduct launch

  Background

  The project sought to connect the new skyscraper with Gifu's civic identity and attract visitors in addition to residents and tenants.

  Action taken

  Gifu City operated an observation facility on the 43rd floor and paired it with the Zetton restaurant.

  Aftermath

  The tower gained a public viewing function and a recognizable visitor-oriented destination above its residential and commercial uses.

  Source

• 1983

  Adopt a mixed-use station-area redevelopment modelStrategy

  Background

  Planning began as part of the redevelopment of the area west of JR Gifu Station.

  Action taken

  The project was structured to combine housing, senior residences, commerce, public facilities, broadcasting, parking, and an observatory in one high-rise complex.

  Aftermath

  The completed tower became a major landmark and a concentrated urban-services destination beside the station.

  Source

1. 1Gifu City Tower 43en.wikipedia.org