초대형 지진에도 일상생활 가능…일본 최고층 330m 건물 어떻게 지었길래

The 9.0 magnitude Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 caused significant damage to Tokyo's high-rise buildings. Mori Building, a major Japanese real estate developer, stated that their apartment complex, Azabudai Hills, can safely operate during earthquakes of magnitude 7.3 or higher, comparable to the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

Azabudai Hills consists of three buildings, with the central building, Mori JP Tower, being the tallest in Japan at 330 meters. Approximately 23,500 residents and 300 million annual visitors rely on the complex for living and shopping.

While complete internal earthquake resistance is essential, a complete failure could lead to large-scale casualties. Mori Building invested 640 billion yen ($5.8 trillion) in the construction of this "exceptionally safe building," which features 1,800 earthquake damping devices per building floor, 1,200 "torsion pendulum dampers," and 300 "oil dampers" to absorb seismic energy.

The building also has a system that allows employees to monitor floor-by-floor tremors during an earthquake, helping ensure their safety. Furthermore, Mori Building uses the complex as a refuge for approximately 3,600 citizens who cannot return home due to natural disasters. They provide a three-day provision of emergency food, water, and essential supplies for free. The Tokyo and Minato districts jointly cover the cost of procuring this emergency food.