Best International Project Of 2025: Park Wellstate Nishiazabu Brings Nature To Urban Tokyo

Park WellState Nishiazabu set out with a goal: to create true independent living for its residents in the heart of Tokyo.

The community, owned and operated by Mitsui Fudosan Residential Co., Ltd. sought out to create a new model of urban senior living and towers over the surrounding area with 36 floors to offer panoramic views of the surrounding Tokyo and Mount Fuji.

Floor-to-ceiling window frames a lush central courtyard with water features, more than 70 species of evergreen and deciduous trees in and around the property and 41 species of shrubs and groundcover on the community’s property help create a biophilic atmosphere.

Not only do they act as a connection to nature for residents, trees along the north side of the community act as a buffer from nearby highway noise while filtering exhaust pollution, while trees in the courtyard were specifically selected to improve air quality for residents through natural purification.

Park WellState Nishiazabu is located in a prestigious neighborhood once home to samurai villas, according to the team’s submission document, and is only a short walk to major subway stations, allowing residents to remain connected to metropolitan Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

Amenities are meant to promote wellness and social connection and include a heated pool, steam room, sauna, yoga terrace, tea pavilion, theater with karaoke and mahjong room. The ninth floor is dedicated to wellness, and the top two floors are dedicated to dining while offering stunning views of the surrounding city. Dining is operated by the Imperial Hotel, with daily menus supervised by licensed nutritionists.

Park WellState Nishiazabu also features and on-site clinic and insurance office to help them remain at home while their needs change over time.

The community makes distinct use of lighting throughout the property, from the large windows letting in natural light to lighting features in and around the community courtyard, which accentuates the wood, trees and water on display into one cohesive design while enhancing the urban setting. The connection to nature is on full display in architectural design choices as well, with wooden eaves along the tower meant to symbolize vitality in the skyline, and inclusion of nature invites residents to experience the changing of the seasons in their daily lives.

Residential units focus on incorporating panoramic views of the city, particularly on the upper levels of the community, while featuring soft textures and calming colors to promote comfort and rest for residents with spacious bathrooms designed with walk-in showers for ease of access and safety.

Built and designed by Obayashi Corporation, with SWA Group as the landscape architect, the community was completed Oct. 1, 2024 and set out to “represent a pioneering model for the future of senior housing” by being a community that blends luxury, wellness and ecological stewardship. 

Judges were impressed with the community’s connection to nature throughout, along with the incorporation of light.

“Gorgeous, elegant living,” wrote Ric D’Amico. “The Asian influences, the calm lighting and connections to nature are well executed both inside and outside the building. The spa could rival many luxury brand hotels.”

Judge Gracyn Robinson was particularly impressed with the community’s dedicated wellness floor, noting more communities in the U.S. could stand to incorporate them, along with its pool.

“Breathtaking night gardens,” Robinson wrote. “[I] love the cathedral feel of the tea garden. Utterly elegant and sublime; sign me up. Each space is a masterpiece.”

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