Shibuya Marui shopping complex established in 1971 has been a resident of Shibuya for half a century, it is now often overshadowed by the district’s newer buildings like Shibuya Scramble Square. That’s all set to change, however, as Shibuya Marui is slated for a massive redevelopment project which involves demolishing the existing building
Architecture firm Foster + Partners is in charge of designing the new nine-storey complex (plus two basement levels), which will span roughly 2,800sqm of total retail space. By using wood for 60 percent of its construction materials, the construction process is expected to produce roughly 2,000 tons less in CO2 emissions than it would if using steel.
Contractors are also planning to make the new complex more sustainable than the existing building by harnessing solar power to generate electricity within the space. While designs for the new building look stunning, it’ll take a few years for the project to come to fruition. Shibuya Marui is set to close for demolition on August 28 this year, with the wooden structure expected to be completed sometime in 2026.