What will Shibuya look like 100 years from now? Tokyo Tatemono's Vision for the Future of the City, People, and Education (Part 2)

Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. is advancing the Shibuya REGENERATION Project (Shibuya Nitchome Project), the largest redevelopment in the Shibuya area. Aiming for completion in fiscal year 2029, the project explores urban development that leverages the area's unique characteristics. While Shibuya is strongly associated with fashion and IT, it also retains an educational context, home to institutions like Aoyama Gakuin University and the former Children's Castle. Dentsu Inc.Sustainability Consulting Office visited Tokyo Tatemono's Hirota Seki to interview him about the Shibuya 2-chome Project's outline and its core concept: "STEAM Education."

In Part 2, we hear about the vision for the townscape comprising three blocks and the redevelopment concept. Interviewer: Kento Yamada, Dentsu Inc. Sustainability Consulting Office.

Creating new landmarks to generate foot traffic and expand Shibuya's depth

Yamada: I understand the Shibuya 2-chome Project divides the area into three blocks—A, B, and C—for urban planning. Could you briefly describe the characteristics of each area?

Sekiguchi: Block A will feature an elevated plaza designed to become a new landmark for the Shibuya Station East Exit area. Block B will feature a mixed-use complex with offices, hotels, commercial facilities, a bus terminal, and a STEAM talent development hub. Block C will house a tower primarily for residential use. Historically, Shibuya 2-chome has seen less foot traffic compared to other parts of Shibuya. Therefore, the vision is to draw people to Block A, then generate foot traffic from there to Block B, Block C, and surrounding areas, bringing new vibrancy to the entire district.

Yamada: I saw the concept images for Block A. It looks like it will become a very distinctive landmark.

Seki: The stepped structure in Block A isn't just a landmark. It also serves a functional purpose: guiding people arriving from Shibuya Station or the Aoyama direction up from ground level to the second floor, directing them onto the pedestrian deck connecting Blocks A and B. This aims to generate pedestrian flow towards Blocks B and C, and further into the surrounding urban area, effectively extending Shibuya's depth. We also want the landmark sky plaza to function as a new gathering space, hosting events and such.

Regeneration: The New Concept Beyond Sustainability

Yamada: In urban development, I believe it's essential to involve many stakeholders—landowners, government, private companies, and others. What are you consciously focusing on to advance the Shibuya 2-chome Project?

Sekiguchi: Urban development involves an enormous number of stakeholders and progresses over many years. I believe what's crucial for advancing a project is "what guiding principle you establish." That's why we adopted the concept "Shibuya REGENERATION Project" this time. In developing this concept, we interviewed about 100 stakeholders and refined it through discussions. This process has increased the number of people who now see the Shibuya 2-chome Project as something personally relevant to them. Creating this shared understanding is what I believe is driving the project forward.

Yamada: The term "regeneration" carries meanings like "rebirth" or "continuous creation," doesn't it? I think it also connects with sustainability, so I'd like to ask in detail: why did you choose "Shibuya REGENERATION Project" as the concept?

Sek: "Regeneration" and "regenerative" are terms gaining attention recently, particularly in Europe and the US. We see this as a new concept, the next step beyond sustainability.

Previously, the mainstream approach for a sustainable society was "let's reduce the bad things." Recently, however, the focus has shifted towards "let's transform things into something better for future generations." This concept embodies our desire for urban development not to end with construction, but to create a mechanism like an ecosystem where new value continuously emerges.

Yamada: Urban development is often seen as peaking at completion, but this project clearly looks beyond that toward ongoing sustainability and evolution. Has this concept been positively received by the landowners?

Seki: Yes, the landowners also resonate with this philosophy. Many are elderly, and some even say, "This is the last major undertaking of my life." That shows how much they expect from this project. It's heartening, but it also makes me feel a renewed sense of responsibility to deliver.

Will community development focused on "our grandchildren's grandchildren" transform education?

Yamada: In terms of sustainability, when imagining Shibuya 100 years from now, what positive impact could the Shibuya 2-chome Project have?

Sekiguchi: When we first conceived this as a hub for cultivating STEAM talent, "thinking about the generation after our grandchildren's grandchildren" was a key phrase. Universities and research institutions have traditionally contributed to society by specializing in specific fields. I hope the Shibuya 2-chome Project will highlight the importance of interdisciplinary learning across academic fields. It has the potential to change the very concept and approach of education going forward.

Yamada: I was deeply impressed by the long-term vision of shaping the town and its culture to steer societal trends in a better direction. I'm very excited to see how Shibuya will evolve from here.

Seki: This project cannot be realized by Tokyo Tatemono alone. We would be delighted to collaborate with landowners and various other stakeholders to explore initiatives and new ideas that cannot be envisioned within existing frameworks.

A city that continues to evolve with the times. It will be fascinating to see how Shibuya transforms through Tokyo Tatemono's development.

The Sustainability Consulting Office will continue interviewing next-generation opinion leaders in sustainability initiatives. We plan to keep sharing information that can help you rethink your company's relationship with the local community.