Namba Hips Shopping Center (Japan)

[Gutterflower]

Hey all

I've been following various Japanese blogs for ages and they keep mentioning this new shopping center in Osaka. So i did some research. it appears the design features a massive Freefall tower through the middle of the building if you look at some of the pictures in the construction gallery below you can see the brakes being installed at the base of the tower..

 

Its unlike any drop tower ive seen before so i wonder who's building it..

 

Concept Art

 

Recent construction pic

 

The brakes

 

Links

Developers blog: http://www.arrowgroup.co.jp/nanba/blog/320075/

Construction pics: http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown/5777/nanbahips.html

 

Another stop for the Japan trip?

[mikomeko]

Wow, would be fun! Do you know how tall it is?

[BDG]

That's a very gimmicky building. Is it suppose to look like something ? Is there a story behind it's shape and lines ?

[cfc]

It looks like a banjo.

[Skramp]

I'd say it looks like the pendulum of a grandfather clock. Whatever it's supposed to look like, it's pretty cool and a neat idea.

[pianojohn]

Any idea of where this is in Osaka? Downtown or closer to USJ? Of course, the city is pretty spread out.

 

Thanks!

[Nrthwnd]

Looks like an

 

! EXCLAMATION POINT !

 

to me.

 

[asr]

It also looks like a somewhat strangly shaped bowling pin.

[odene497]

The way the shape gets smaller in the middle looks like it'll be one hell of an, I guess you could say, "elbow chopper".

[Cyber.Fiber]

To me it kind of looks like a thermometor! Since the Track is red.

 

Or.....

 

On the arrowgroup website it says hips so maybe it is based on hips?

Who knows what it is?

[Noxegon]

I'll be amazed if it's successful in the city that already houses Festival Gate.

 

Just my €0.02...

[MrMorgan]

The way the shape gets smaller in the middle looks like it'll be one hell of an, I guess you could say, "elbow chopper".

 

Elbow chopper! Now that's creative thinking.

[Groteslurf]

Very weird.

I wonder where they got the idea to build something like that.

As it is not a part of a themepark I guess, it is just a hotel with a drop tower in it. I really cannot imagine that there will be constant lines for this attraction.

Or is it perhaps a new kind of elevator for guests on the top floor ?

[moofygirl]

At first glance it reminded me of an hourglass, but now I kind of think it does look like a thermometer. What an unusual piece of architecture.