Hulic Ryogoku River Center
Make rivers the "face" of the city
The Sumida River has long been a symbol of Edo and Tokyo. The Hulic Ryogoku River Center is a facility centered around THE GATE HOTEL RYOGOKU by HULIC, built on the banks of the Sumida River. For us, having spent nearly a decade promoting the "Sumida River Seasonal Proposals" with the desire to revitalize the river as the face of the city, this has become an extremely symbolic project.
To counter the current state where the river and the city are divided, we have created the "Sumida River Gate," a semi-outdoor walkthrough space running from the city through the center of the building to the river, thereby connecting the two. In addition to the pleasant breeze from the river, the shimmer of the water's surface reflected on the boat-hull-shaped grand roof invites passersby toward the river.
Centered around three main functions—the hotel, a water bus waiting area operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the Ryogoku Child-Rearing Plaza operated by Sumida City—the facility also attracts services such as shared bicycles and car sharing, newly equipping it with the function of a transportation hub.
Also, restaurant terraces accessible from the river embankments are set up in the river section, providing an unprecedented experience where the buildings and the river are directly connected.
This architecture makes the most of the river's potential, featuring a lighting design that harmonizes with the sparkling water surface and utilizing the thermal energy of the river water for the facility's air conditioning.