Keyaki Plaza

Name: Keyaki Plaza

Designer: Yoji Sasaki

Location: In the heart of Saitama city, Japan

Size: Covers an area of 23687 square meters

        The square covers 11100 square meters

        The construction area of 10136 square meters

In this design, Sasaki has successfully created new Japanese landscapes using  "Zen Buddhism" based on actual situation by combining modern technology and gardening skill.In Keyaki Plaza, he transplanted 220 zelkova trees to a seven meters high rack in a two-story building.He considered sunshine, shadow, environment, building colors, tree shape and surrounding residential spaces. Sasaki tried to combine these elements and create a simplistic beautiful garden. Also, he uses most primitive techniques to let people feel that the nature is surrounding them.For example: the stone materials and plant materials.

Next,in this design, Yoji Sasaki tried to pursue artistic landscapes. He used some circle, square and layer strip elements to shape landscape and create an elegant space. For example, he used some underground lights to show the different views between day and night. Also, he used some fine pavings and wood benches and tables to express this pleasant landscape space. Moreover, we can see Sasaki really pay attention to some details of his design, like the shape of the trees, shape of the stones and material of facilities.

All in all, I think Sasaki's design defines "Humanistic design". His design looks like a magic key to connect people with nature and serve people through attention to their social and funcitional requirements. For a designer, we need to respect nature and try to make a comfortable, practical, dedelicate design to meet different people's different needs and give people a sense of nature is close to their lives.