The Roppongi phenomena

Fashion has always been an important element of architecture but the ongoing development of Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills district takes the fusion of designer brands and architecture to a new level. Sara Mercer looks at the Roppongi phenomena. Roppongi is no mere shopping centre, it’s a full quarter or district, a city within a city. Nothing on this scale has been created before. Constructed by building tycoon Minoru Mori its opening in 2003, after 17 years of land acquisition, planning and construction was just the beginning. Roppongi Hills, which cost $4bn to build, now houses over 200 shops, restaurants, cinemas, an art museum, an observation deck and most importantly some of the most influential designers any women with a love of fine clothes and high heels could wish for .......

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Main Image: Aerial image of the main Mori Tower and Conran's Residential Towers B & C flanking to the left with Mount Fuji in the background
Thumbnails from left to right: Conran's Residential Tower B & C, Conran's Roofscape, Conran's "Forest" interior design, Conran's Club Onyjaku, Herzog du Meuron's Prada store and Tadao Ando;s 21_21 Design Sight.