Grand Green Osaka & Umekita Park

Grand Green Osaka & Umekita Park

GGN collaboratively led the landscape design for this 22-acre project, which combines the 11-acre Umekita Park with an 11-acre private-sector development that includes commercial and incubation facilities, universities and research institutes, a convention center, hotels, and residential units.

Situated on the last prime real estate in Osaka, the project is located at the entry of the Japan Rail Osaka Station, one of the world’s busiest transportation hubs serving 2.5 million passengers a day.

GGN’s landscape design vision serves as a catalyst for the project’s success. Previously, Osaka had the lowest amount of greenery per inhabitant of any prefecture in Japan, but the consortium of developers leading this project is focused on providing Osaka with a healthy, sustainable future.

The project is proactively introducing CO2 reduction technologies in keeping with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, Umekita Park strengthens the resilience of the Osaka region by functioning as a safety evacuation area in the event of a large-scale disaster.

“Our design is inspired by the creativity and style that is unique to Osaka and the history of Japanese Gardens. We are equally inspired by what the client group has termed Osaka MIDORI LIFE – a fusion of Greenery and Innovation that will be supported by ongoing seasonal events and daily programming planned for the next 50 years,” says GGN’s Founding Principal Shannon Nichol. “It has such been an honor for us to work on this important project in the city of Osaka with an exceptionally talented team of collaborators and clients.”

“The project provides a range of unique landscape spaces within the site,” says GGN Principal Makie Suzuki, who has led the GGN project team since 2018. “Some areas will be very tranquil, reflective, and contemplative – while others will be very active, interactive, and social with the goal of connecting the two surrounding neighborhoods while becoming an international destination.”

In this full-scale collaboration between private and public sectors, nine developers, led by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., collaborated alongside a trio of government agencies – the Urban Renaissance Agency, the City of Osaka, and Osaka Prefecture. GGN collaborated on the landscape design with Nikken Sekkei Ltd., who led a large team of design consultants, and Mitsubishi Jisho Design.

Grand Green Osaka and Umekita Park opened to substantial completion on September 4, 2024, and the project will be fully open in spring of 2027. The ¥1 trillion ($7 billion USD) project anticipates attracting 100 million visitors a year.

DETAILS

Location: Osaka, Japan
Size: 22 acres
Client: Mitsubishi Estate Co.
Phase 1 Completion Date: 2024
Phase 2 Completion Anticipated: 2027

PROJECT TEAM

The Client and project team for Umekita Park and Facilities includes the City of Osaka and Urban Renaissance Agency, Developers JV9, GGN, Nikken Sekkei Ltd.; Kathryn Gustafson, Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. (through Schematic Design), Satoshi Uchihara Design Office, Rian Ihara Design Office, MEC Design International Corporation, Specific construction joint venture of Obayashi Corporation, Takenaka Corporation and Takenaka Civil Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, and SANAA.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Landscape Design Lead for Competition through Design Development