'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan

Images of Gate Tower Building in Osaka, Japan will make you "round eyes" with the "bridge across the house".

Gate Tower Building is one of the most interesting " towers " in Japan. What made this interesting building in Osaka?

Picture 1 of 'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan
Gate Tower Building.

There are no offices at the 5, 6 and 7 floors of this 16-storey office building but instead highways go through. At the information board of the building on the ground floor, these three special "office" floors are called " Hanshin Expressway ". You can not go to any floor you want when going to this building, because the elevator will take you from the "fourth floor" always up to the 8th floor!

Picture 2 of 'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan
This particular "office" floor is called "Hanshin Expressway".

Gate Tower Building is the result of an unusual compromise between the landlord and the Japanese government. Accordingly, the land was occupied by a coal and wood processing company before the Meiji period. However, the development to other fuel sources has led to the recession of this business.

In 1983, the redevelopment of this area was decided, but the construction permit was rejected because the highway was then expected to be built on the site. And so it took 5 years for Hanshin Highway Corporation to reach an agreement with the landowner to come up with the current solution: for the highway to "pierce" the building !

Picture 3 of 'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan
At 3 "special" floors of this office building .

Picture 4 of 'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan
. is a highway "through"!

Picture 5 of 'Round eyes' with 'cross-bridge' in Japan
Night scene of the building.

Besides being interesting is that there is a "running" highway in the heart of the house, the business activities in this building are still going on normally. Around the highway is also designed so that noise and vibration do not affect the building.