Atago Green Hills

Atago Green Hills is a large high-rise complex in Tokyo's central Atago district, combining residential units, office floors, and retail spaces across interconnected towers. The buildings share a unified landscape with landscaped gardens and public plazas connecting the structures.

The complex was designed by Argentine-American architect César Pelli and completed in 2002, introducing contemporary high-rise development to this central Tokyo location. The project's creation involved preserving and incorporating existing cultural landmarks from the site's past.

The complex incorporates a centuries-old Buddhist temple into its grounds, creating a living relationship between visitors, residents, and this sacred space within the contemporary setting.

The site sits on elevated terrain, so expect stairs and elevators when moving between different levels throughout the complex. Public walkways and plazas are open for visitors to explore, though residential and office areas remain restricted to occupants.

Unusual for a high-rise development, the architect preserved the site's existing Buddhist temple and actively wove it into the modern design rather than demolishing or hiding it. This creates a rare dialogue between contemporary commerce and centuries-old spiritual practice in the heart of a business district.