Our vision is green

As a subsidiary of TAKENAKA Corporation, we attach great importance to sustainability in construction – just as it is exemplified for us in Japan. Every year, TAKENAKA Headquarters in Tokyo publishes a revised version of the “Group CSR Vision” – our vision of how we can contribute to corporate social responsibility. Our goal is clearly defined:

Infographic on sustainability strategy in urban development by TAKENAKA.

This chart provides an overview of the fields of activity that Takenaka has set itself as goals. For us, sustainable building means “realizing a sustainable society through urban development”.

“[…] We are making efforts in various areas to identify problem areas on which to focus. This is done in dialogue with stakeholders and with careful consideration of global developments, including the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.”

From this we derive our motto: “CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY BY PASSING ON THE BEST WORKS TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.” And that’s what we live!

Your dream is our mission

We turn your wishes into a sustainable reality

Our demands on buildings are becoming more and more sophisticated and diverse. Buildings no longer only must be safe and stable – environmental aspects are being considered more and more. TAKENAKA takes on the challenge of creating new architectural values that take into consideration the environment, usability, and comfort for the user at the same time.

What exactly do the best works which we pass on to future generations look like?

Our buildings are individually adapted to the requirements of our clients. What they all have in common, however, is that the creation process involves various activities aimed at creating architectural spaces in harmony with the environment. The central aspects here are our environmentally oriented thinking in the planning phase, as well as the integration of environmentally friendly measures during construction. In close communication with our clients, we evaluate every aspect of our activities in terms of design, construction and operation from the six perspectives described in this chart.

An infographic detailing a sustainable approach to construction and building management, centered around a circular diagram. At the core of the circle is 'CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH CLIENTS'. This central idea is linked to four phases around the circle: 'DESIGN', paired with 'SMART ENERGY CONCEPTS', represented by an icon of a lightbulb with cog gears. 'CONSTRUCTION', linked to 'CREATING URBAN RICH LANDSCAPES', depicted with an icon of a cityscape and trees. 'OPERATION', associated with 'CREATING COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTS', shown with an icon of a couch and a plant. 'LONG LIFE CYCLE OF BUILDINGS', signified by an icon of a building with a recycling symbol. Two additional concepts are presented outside the cycle: 'PROLONGING PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE BY CAREFUL MAINTENANCE', indicated by a tool icon. 'KEEP THE EARTH CLEAN', symbolized by a globe with a broom.

This chart provides an overview of all environmental aspects TAKENAKA takes into consideration for their projects.

Our solutions for
your sustainable building

Modern office building complex with large glass façade, surrounded by manicured lawns and a water basin at dusk.

Amada GmbH new headquarters, Haan, Germany

TAKENAKA develops sensible, carefully considered, and long-term oriented solutions for you as a customer to protect our climate sustainably. In Europe, we have already implemented environmentally friendly technologies for the sustainable energy supply of buildings. These include:

  • Photovoltaic systems
  • Combined heat and power plants
  • Geothermal energy
  • Heat pumps
  • Ice storage

For our customer Amada GmbH in Haan, we installed a geothermal heat pump system that penetrates 130 m into the ground. There, 53 heat exchangers were installed. This covers up to 50% of the air conditioning heat source load of the building.

International certifications

Takenaka supports you as our client in certifying buildings for sustainable criteria. This considers energy consumption and carbon footprint as well as recycling, materials, quality of life and mobility. Well-known examples are the international certifications are

  • LEED (USA),
  • BREEAM (UK) and
  • DGNB (DE).

In 2018, TAKENAKA Europe built a production facility with assembly workshop and body shop for Jaguar Land Rover in Nitra, Slovakia, which was awarded BREEAM Excellent. BREEAM originates from the UK and is a rating system for environmental and socio-cultural aspects of building sustainability.

Modern factory complex with large glass facades, surrounded by well-kept green areas in daylight.

Jaguar Land Rover Slovakia s.r.o new office, assembly workshop, body shop, Nitra, Slovakia

Interior view of the Komatsu Mining Germany office in Düsseldorf, Germany

Komatsu Mining Germany GmbH new office, Düsseldorf, Germany

The green revolution
for your well-being

Building sustainably is about designing and constructing buildings that have the least possible impact on the environment. At the same time, the human factor must not be forgotten. The aim is also to create a pleasant atmosphere with a high quality of life. The careful selection of materials, for example, as well as spatial planning that allows for natural lighting and natural ventilation are of central importance.

Example for natural lighting

When planning a new office for Komatsu Germany GmbH in Düsseldorf, we decided to make the lighting sustainable. To sufficiently illuminate the approx. 1,300 m² of office space per floor, a skylight was planned in the atrium in addition to the façade windows. Our simulations showed that office areas next to the atrium were illuminated almost as much as regular offices are illuminated by electric light thanks to the passive natural lighting provided by the atrium.

Our sustainable references in Europe

Our sustainable references in Europe

International sustainable references

Because sustainability is not a local issue!

Takenaka Corporation established an environmental charter as early as 1992. Our Japanese parent company is developing concepts for CO2-neutral urban districts by 2050 in the spirit of sustainability. Numerous in-house developments such as vertical green walls, green concrete and energy storage techniques have been created in the company’s own research laboratory. The best part is: The TAKENAKA Group benefits from these activities worldwide!

An example of successful sustainable construction is the FDW Tower, also known as Pacific Century Place Jakarta, in central Jakarta. This super high-rise is used as an office building and was designed with the aim of creating a timeless and unique value that will permanently withstand the strong real estate competition in Jakarta. The layers of fins on the façade of highly transparent glass bring distinctive changes to a simple façade composition by actively adapting to the regional environment. This works through a pronounced thickness on the east and west faces to block sunlight in the horizontal direction. On the office floors, there is a curtain wall system that creates a sense of openness.

The office floors are fitted with a curtain wall system that creates a sense of openness with large Low-E glass measuring 3.6 by 2.25 meters. The 10.8-meter-wide span was created by CFT structural columns and is the first time it has been installed in Jakarta. This has ensured a functional and attractive workspace. The building’s outstanding environmental performance was recognized with LEED Platinum certification. In addition, the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) measures, which provide 36-hour full load backup, enhance the property value. This super high-rise has become a flagship building in the Jakarta real estate market.

General view of the FDW Tower in Indonesia (Jakarta) - exterior view of the building in Pacific Century Place

FDW Tower / Pacific Century Place, Jakarta, Indonesia

Modern high-rise façade with vertical gardens, surrounded by other skyscrapers under a blue sky.

Capita Green, Singapore

Green Oasis in the Sky

In collaboration with Toyo Ito, TAKENAKA has built the Capita Green high-rise in Singapore, which for us is a symbol of ecologically sustainable buildings. Capita Green is also known as a green oasis in the sky. It catches the eye with its high-performance curtain walls that combine function and design. More than half of the façade is covered with living plants, resulting in a 55 percent green ratio. The innovative double-skin façade is made up of an outer layer of frameless glass and an inner envelope of double-glazed, floor-to-ceiling glass. Between these two layers of glass are planter boxes planted with shrubs and ground cover. The double-skin façade not only reduces the solar heat input into the building by up to 26 percent, but also serves as a greenhouse in which the plants can thrive.

On the 40th floor, 200 meters above the ground floor, is the Sky Forest, a roof garden with tall trees. On the 38th floor, there is a swimming pool that is part of a members-only gym. We make the most of the tropical climate right on the equator: Capita Green is an oasis in the sky where you can enjoy swimming in the sky all year round.

As TAKENAKA, we never forget our Japanese roots: the entrance lobby on the ground floor is made with a plaster wall using Japan’s traditional kakiotoshi “scratched finish” technique and Japanese firebrick tiles. Artisan plasterers from Japan created the characteristic wave-shaped wall with local clay.

Innovative Architecture, high quality execution

Innovative Architecture, high quality execution

You want to build and are looking for the right partner? Contact us!

Innovative Architecture, high quality execution

You want to build and are looking for the right partner? Contact us!