Spiral, Arts centre and restaurant complex in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan

Spiral, also known as the Wacoal Art Center, is a nine-storey building in Minami-Aoyama designed by Fumihiko Maki. Its facade mixes a grid of square glass panes, white sections with dark-framed ribbon windows and a pale triangular sail-like form; metal lettering reading "SPIRAL" sits near the base. Inside, a 15 m spiral ramp encircles the rear gallery and climbs to the second floor.

The building opened in 1985 as a flagship project designed by architect Fumihiko Maki for the Wacoal Corporation. This project helped establish the area as a cultural destination in Tokyo.

The name comes from the spiral ramp in the rear atrium, chosen by Wacoal president Tsuneyoshi Tsukamoto. Since opening in October 1985 the centre has worked under the concept of merging daily life and art, staging contemporary art and design exhibitions, theatre, dance, concerts, fashion shows and symposiums. A sculpture by Aiko Miyawaki stands in the building.

The building sits near Omotesando Station and opens daily from late morning hours. Keep in mind that individual shops and galleries may have their own specific hours.

The spiral ramp that gives the building its name is 15 m in diameter and appears to float, encircling the rear gallery space as it climbs to the second floor. The name was chosen by Wacoal president Tsukamoto Nobuyoshi. A monument to the scholar Takano Chōei, who hid in this area at the end of the Edo period, was moved inside a pillar near the Omotesando side when Spiral was built.