Big-i, Observation tower and commercial complex in Koriyama, Japan.
Big-i is a skyscraper in Koriyama standing 133 meters tall across 24 floors, located beside Koriyama Station. The structure serves multiple purposes from bottom to top: the lower levels contain a shopping center with retail stores and dining options, while the upper floors are devoted to museum and visitor spaces.
The building was completed in 2001 as part of a city redevelopment project at the station's west exit, marking a turning point in the city's modern architecture. The Research Institute of Architecture designed this structure to serve the rapidly expanding city with new commercial and cultural functions.
The building houses the Koriyama Science Museum in its upper floors, where visitors can explore exhibitions about astronomy and space science. The collection features interactive displays that help both children and adults understand the mysteries of the universe.
Access is convenient from the station plaza, with separate entrances for the shopping zone and the upper museum levels. The building has elevators and stairs to reach all areas, and viewing windows that offer outlooks over the surroundings on clear days.
The planetarium in the upper floors holds a world record as the highest of its kind above ground level. It achieved this record through its strategic placement at the building's height, making it especially valuable for astronomy-minded visitors.
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