The Company’s History

“Someday we will erect new buildings on the charred ruins.” Such were the prophetic words of Taikichiro Mori, the father of current Mori Building President Minoru Mori, as he looked over the wasteland that was war-devastated Tokyo. In 1955, Taikichiro founded Mori Fudosan, the predecessor of Mori Building, and within two years, the new company completed construction of the Nishi Shimbashi 1 Mori Building and the Nishi-Shimbashi 2 Mori Building. A precedent was set at this early time as among the first tenants of these buildings were a number of foreign companies. Soon, Mori Building won a reputation among foreign companies for providing quality office space. The approach taken even then, of inviting the participation of everyone concerned with the development and thoroughly discussing every issue from the outset, continues to be our operational method today.

In the late 1950s, Mori Building made a full-scale entry into the leased office building development market. Concentrating mainly on the Shimbashi-Toranomon district, we constructed many office buildings. As more and more of our fire-resistant buildings rose from the ashes of war, we turned our attention to the revitalization of the entire area. During this period of our history, all our buildings were given numbers, rather than names, which gave birth to the nickname, the “Number Building.”

Laforet Harajuku opened its doors in 1978. Harajuku, which was transforming into a fashionable district where young people gathered, instantly established its status as a trendsetting hub with the arrival of this landmark.

The first large city block project by a private-sector company, ARK Hills, took 17 years to complete. As a 24-hour mixed-use urban complex that comprises offices, residences, a hotel, and a concert hall, ARK Hills was the forerunner of all subsequent Hills projects, embodying the close proximity of work and residence, the harmonious coexistence of cities and nature, and a cultural hub.

VenusFort opened in Odaiba as a theme park-style commercial facility where visitors could enjoy the atmosphere of medieval Europe. Mori Building moved forward on its development following the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s decision to lease the Tokyo Waterfront City area to private companies for a provisional 10-year period, aiming to promote the area’s development.

Subsequently, in order to plan and consider facilities that would contribute to creating new vitality in the Tokyo Waterfront City area, all facilities ceased operations by August 2022.

Atago Green Hills is a mixed-use development that inherits the ARK Hills development philosophy of creating open spaces through high-rise buildings, promoting close proximity of work and residence in the city center. It was also positioned as a step leading to Roppongi Hills.

Since the development of ARK Hills, Mori Building has embraced urban living as a major theme. This project, situated in the Motoazabu area, renowned for its quiet, upscale residential neighborhoods in central Tokyo, is a large city block with its main facilities comprising residences, a first for the Mori Building.

With the Roppongi Hills project, Japan’s largest ever urban redevelopment, we further revolutionized the concepts and the paradigms of city making. Our aim was the creation of a new Tokyo cultural center, where humanity, culture, interaction and vision could flourish. We achieved this goal on the upper floors of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower with the Mori Arts Center, a cultural complex comprising an art museum, an observation deck, a private club and educational facilities.

The Dojunkai Aoyama Apartments that formerly stood on the site of Omotesando Hills were a symbol of the cultural lifestyle of the early Showa Era. The redevelopment was not easy. Together with the architect Tadao Ando, we considered a vision that respected the landscape of Omotesando, and harmony with the zelkova-lined Omotesando boulevard was not only maintained by the low-rise profile but also reinforced by extensive use of rooftop gardens. Omotesando Hills’ six-story atrium, enclosed by a spiral ramp, echoes the slope of the boulevard outside, transforming the interior into a second Omotesando with its own array of shops.

Located in Shanghai’s Pudong district, which has experienced rapid development even within evolving China, this world-class international financial center boasts 101 stories and stands 492 meters high. It features top-tier offices designed for global corporations, along with an observation deck, commercial facilities, and a luxury hotel, establishing itself as a major hub for business, culture, entertainment, and information dissemination in Asia.

This new multifunctional hub is driving the development of the cosmopolitan and culturally rich ARK Hills area. It features high-performance offices that meet the needs of the times and urban residences that accommodate diverse lifestyles. Furthermore, we are actively pursuing environmental initiatives by integrating cutting-edge environmental technologies, planting trees primarily consisting of native regional species, installing deadwood to provide habitats and foraging areas for wildlife, and reusing topsoil to promote biodiversity.

A new business base born in ARK Hills, which has continued to develop as the center of international business and culture. In addition to the highly flexible and efficient office space, it is located directly to Roppongi 1-chome Station. The pedestrian deck connecting ARK Hills and the IZUMI GARDEN, advanced facilities, high seismic performance and environmental performance, adds a new value to the business.

Model project for urban regeneration through public-private partnerships Utilizing the Multi-Level Road System, a revolutionary method that allows for a single site to serve both roads and buildings, this mixed-use super high-rise building (height: 247 meters) was constructed as part of the development of Ring Road No. 2. Centered around top-tier office space featuring expansive floor plates of approximately 1,000 tsubo (approx. 3,300 m²) per level, the complex includes Japan’s first Andaz Tokyo hotel, high-class residences with exceptional views, international-standard conference facilities, commercial spaces designed to maximize support for diverse urban activities, and lush open spaces spanning approximately 6,000 square meters.

In 2020, construction was completed on the Business Tower, which houses ARCH, an incubation center designed to foster new ventures for large corporations. In 2022, construction was completed on the Residential Tower, a global-standard residence where residents can enjoy the city’s affluence. In 2023, construction was completed on the Station Tower, which was developed as part of Toranomon Hills Station on the Hibiya Line.

JAKARTA MORI TOWER, Mori Building’s first development project in Southeast Asia, is a large-scale office tower boasting the highest specifications in Jakarta. It is located near the Semanggi Interchange, along Sudirman Road in the heart of Jakarta’s largest business district, where high-rise buildings are concentrated.

The concept we arrived at for Azabudai Hills is a “Modern Urban Village – a town surrounded by greenery and like a plaza that connects people.” It seamlessly integrates a wide range of urban functions, including offices, residences, a hotel, an international school, retail shops, and cultural facilities, with a spacious central square at the heart of the city. This urban village, designed to create an environment where everyone can live prosperously, realizes the globally recognized values of green and wellness right in the heart of Tokyo.