Harumi Triton

Harumi Triton (晴海トリトン) is the commercial retail component of Harumi Island Triton Square (晴海アイランドトリトンスクエア), a large mixed-use redevelopment in the Harumi 1-chome district of Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The wider Triton Square complex comprises three high-rise office towers (X, Y and Z buildings) plus a W building, residential blocks, and the shopping zone known as Harumi Triton. The commercial facility opened on 14 April 2001 and is operated by Sumisho Urban Development (住商アーバン開発), a Sumitomo Corporation group company. The name combines Harumi, the waterfront district, with Triton, the sea god of Greek mythology; "Tri" also signals the number three, reflecting the three urban functions of work, play and living, and the three office towers. The retail area is laid out along a roughly 400-metre cherry-tree promenade facing the Asashio Canal, with terraces themed around flowers, water and greenery. Its interior is a two-level atrium mall called Triton Street, hosting around 60 shops and restaurants covering dining, goods and services, arranged to evoke a Southern European streetscape. A central patio, the "Myth Plaza," features a large ceiling painting inspired by Greek mythology and a mosaic of the sea god Triton. Harumi Triton serves the surrounding offices, residences and the wider Harumi waterfront, and hosts seasonal events such as the summer Triton Beer Terrace and Christmas and Tanabata displays. The complex also contains the Dai-ichi Life Hall, a 767-seat classical music venue reopened at the foot of the towers in November 2001. The site is served by Kachidoki and Tsukishima stations and by bus and BRT routes, and the Triton Bridge moving walkway links it across the canal toward Kachidoki.

Harumi Island Triton Square was built on the site of the former Harumi Danchi (晴海団地), a public housing complex of 15 buildings and 669 units constructed by the Japan Housing Corporation between 1957 and 1958 on reclaimed land in Harumi 1-chome. As the housing aged, a redevelopment plan covering roughly 10 hectares was drawn up by the Urban Development Corporation (都市基盤整備公団) and the Harumi 1-chome District First-Class Urban Redevelopment Union, following Chuo Ward's master plan and the concept of a mixed-use "work, play, live" district. After the urban plan was decided in 1992, the project weathered the post-bubble economic downturn. Construction of the first phase (blocks 2 and 3) began in March 1994, and the second phase (block 1-1) began in June 1997. The complex opened on 14 April 2001. The design achieved an average floor-area ratio of about 700% through a varied massing that allows high-rise offices and housing to coexist, and the three towers X, Y and Z were linked with inter-building vibration dampers — described as a world first for high-rise buildings — to improve comfort against wind-induced sway. The complex received the 43rd BCS Prize. The commercial zone, Harumi Triton, opened alongside the complex on 14 April 2001 and is operated by Sumisho Urban Development. Its design concept evokes "a ship moored in a harbor town" facing the Asashio Canal, with a roughly 400-metre cherry-tree promenade and terraces of flowers, water and greenery. The interior is a two-level atrium mall, Triton Street, with around 60 shops and restaurants arranged like a Southern European townscape, and a central patio called Myth Plaza featuring a Greek-mythology ceiling painting and a mosaic of the sea god Triton. The office zone was designed for a working population of about 20,000. Sumitomo Corporation and group companies moved their headquarters into the Y building, though they had relocated to Otemachi Place East Tower and other buildings by the end of September 2018. Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the organizing committee occupied the Y building and parts of the X and Z buildings, with its headquarters in the Y building and more than 3,800 staff. When the Games were postponed by a year, some functions moved to the Telecom Center in Aomi, Koto Ward, and the committee operated from two locations. The Dai-ichi Life Hall, originally opened in 1952 on the sixth floor of the Dai-ichi Life Building in Yurakucho to mark the company's 50th anniversary, was closed in 1989 when that building was rebuilt as DN Tower 21. It was revived at the foot of the Triton Square towers and reopened in November 2001 as a 767-seat hall (including 8 wheelchair spaces) focused on classical music. The residential zone comprises about 1,800 units across private condominiums, owner-occupied and rental UR housing, Tokyo Metropolitan housing and Chuo Ward housing, ranging from five-storey mid-rise to 50-storey high-rise buildings, with housing built first in phase one so existing residents could return smoothly. The complex has also been used as a filming location for television dramas.

• 2020

  With the Tokyo Olympics postponed, part of the organizing committee's functions move to the Telecom Center in Aomi, operating from two locations.

• 2018

  Sumitomo Corporation and group companies complete relocation from the Y building to Otemachi Place East Tower and other buildings by the end of September.

• 2001

  Harumi Island Triton Square and the Harumi Triton shopping complex open on 14 April.

• 2001

  Dai-ichi Life Hall reopens at the foot of the towers in November with 767 seats.

• 1997

  Second phase of construction (block 1-1) begins in June.

• 1994

  First phase of construction (blocks 2 and 3) begins in March.

• 1992

  Urban plan for the Harumi 1-chome redevelopment is decided.

• 1957

  Japan Housing Corporation begins building Harumi Danchi (15 buildings, 669 units) on reclaimed land in Harumi 1-chome.

Urban mixed-use shopping complex within a waterfront redevelopment, serving offices, residents and visitors in the Harumi area.

• Triton Street atrium mall

  Two-level atrium mall with around 60 shops and restaurants.

• Myth Plaza

  Central patio with a Greek-mythology ceiling painting and a mosaic of the sea god Triton.

• Dai-ichi Life Hall

  767-seat classical music hall reopened in November 2001.

• Triton Beer Terrace

  Summer beer terrace held at the water terrace until 31 August.

1. 1Harumi Triton official websiteharumi-triton.jp
2. 2Wikidata: Harumi Tritonwikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (Japanese): 晴海アイランドトリトンスクエアja.wikipedia.org