Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu
Tokyo, Japan

The first phase of the largest bus terminal in Japan, Bus Terminal Tokyo Yaesu, has opened in front of Tokyo Station by Urban Renaissance Agency. The goal was to improve terminal spaces in Japan, as most are purely utilitarian in design and are lacking in spatial awareness. Through a careful collaboration between architecture and lighting, the newly designed space serves as a precedent saying, “We can do better.”

The spatial form of the bus terminal is a one-room space where movement and stillness coexist. The spatial design goal of "Floating Clouds on a Dark Sky" was created as a visual guide for each activity and cueing visitors as they transition through the terminal. The lighting scheme makes wayfinding clear and calming while activating the ceiling and creating a sense of exploration. Architectural themes of speed and stillness are juxtaposed and carved out through light creating an ideal environment for lingering and waiting.

This project is the result of an organic collaboration between the architect and lighting designers. with the goal of providing a thoughtful lighting plan for the people. Cities are fundamentally about people, how they come, go and meet with transportation at the core of what makes a city work well. This project focused on improving people’s experience of a dark, underground public space by bringing a sense of beauty, order and comfort through strategic lighting. Our hope is that cities around the world continue to take pride in making good design accessible to its people.

IES Lumen Award of Merit 2023