Description
Greater Tokyo – with a population of more than 30 million and an area of 21.54 km² – is one of the most densely populated urban conglomerations in the world. In order to provide new living quarters commuter towns like Makuhari have been built. The new shopping centers, parks, and hotels, however, are not just being used by local residents but also by the numerous visitors of the Makuhari trade fair – the heart of the area. Since its inauguration in 1989 it has hosted many international events and due to its convenient location between downtown Tokyo and Narita Tokyo International Airport, the number of visitors is increasing every year.
Based on these factors, in 1997 the exhibition complex with an area of 131,000 m² was extended by 33,000 m² by Fumihiko Maki, the architect of the existing fair buildings. The new building is to be positioned at right angles with the older buildings of the complex. However, the new hall is not merely distinguished from them by its position, but also by the structure and the roof cladding. With its shiny silver skin the building is a typical Maki piece of work; the curving forms of the roof structure contrast with the symmetrical arched roofs of the existing fabric.
The rising roof of the Northern Hall spans 96 m and has a maximum ridge height of 32 m. It is supported by a simple load-bearing structure consisting of a series of arched steel girders suspended at 12 m centers, which partly take on a funicular curve and partly the form of a double wave. Both shapes are braced and stabilised with cables. Critical points such as the junctions of roof girders, cables and columns had to be constructed using high-strength steel.
The two-storey main interior exhibition space with an area of 18,000 m² receives daylight through skylights below eaves level and is largely naturally lit. Due to different floor levels the hall can be either used for two small or one large event at a time. Ramps on the sides lead up to the entrances on the upper level from where the entire layout can be viewed.
Drawings
Site plan
Ground floor
Floor plan diagram
Cross sections
Design sketch
Photos
Aerial view of the exhibition hall, in the Makuhari commuter town
Interior view: series of curved trusses and natural daylight entering through strip skylights below eaves level
Originally published in: Jürgen Adam, Katharina Hausmann, Frank Jüttner, Industrial Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2004.