Umeda Center Building, Mixed-use skyscraper in Kita-ku, Japan.
The Umeda Center Building is a mixed-use skyscraper in Kita-ku, Osaka, consisting of two 40-story towers connected by glass bridges at their highest level. The spires reach a total height of 190 meters and form a distinctive part of the city's central skyline.
The building opened in 1993 after revisions to the original 1988 plan, which had called for four interconnected towers. The shift to a two-tower design determined the final shape of the complex.
The underground market within the building recreates an early 1900s Osaka street with period-specific shops and restaurants that reflect how the city looked back then. Visitors can explore these spaces and experience the design choices that defined that era of local commerce.
The Kuchu Teien Observatory offers city views from above and is open most days for visitors to explore. Wearing comfortable shoes helps when moving around the multiple levels and observation areas.
The building uses an innovative lift-up construction method to raise its sky deck, marking the first use of this approach in tall building projects. This technique allowed the viewing platform to hang at its current height above the city.
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