Official

When the wall was removed and the 3-story and 6 dwelling units were integrated into one (shooted in November 2021 at the UR Urban Organization and Apartment History Museum)

After holding down the basic information, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, the Architectural Institute of Japan, "Harumi High-rise Apartments" with the aim of collecting and keeping them as records of people's lives in Harumi Danchi Building No. 15 for 37 years (Housing and Urban Development Corporation, 1996), we approach the real intentions of residents at that time.

In an article last November, I mentioned that it was possible to rent only people whose monthly income was more than four times the rent.
The minimum rent on the floor where the elevator does not stop is 12,000 yen, which is about 250,000 yen to 260,000 yen when converted to the current amount.
In other words, it can be said that it was a luxury apartment with a monthly income of about 1 million yen and an annual income of about 12 million yen.
As a matter of fact, many residents were presidents and managers, and black-painted hires were lined up near the apartment.

So, did these residents realize that they were "high-end apartments" and decided to move in as social status in the days when high-rise apartments were not yet common?
First of all, let's take a look at the reasons for this.

Corridor of the relocated and restored Harumi High-rise apartment (photoed in November 2021 at the UR Urban Organization and Apartment History Museum)

However, the reasons for moving in are as follows.
・I hope to be close to work and housing
　Workplace and previous residence are Chuo-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Minato-ku
・I want a place that is familiar and fits your skin.
　If you are from Shimomachi, you can move in because the Azabu where your previous residence was not matched, you are close to your hometown, and rent is low.
・Hope for a good location
　Convenient near Ginza

From here, it can be seen that the company was pursuing convenience and ease of living.

From the interior of the relocated and restored Harumi High-rise apartment (photographed in November 2021 at the UR Urban Organization and Apartment History Museum)

In modern times, designers' condominiums are attracting attention.
The next thing to worry about is whether the designer was Kunio Maekawa, the decisive factor in moving in.
According to the book, there was a designer who moved in because it was designed by Kunio Maekawa, but such a person is really rare, "This is the public corporation's first high-rise apartment, and Mr. Maekawa's design There are few residents who applied for it because it is. "
Surprisingly, "Before moving in, the attention of new attempts to designers and high-rise apartments is low," and "There were rumors that it was temporarily designed by Kenzo Tange."

As mentioned above, it became clear what the importance of people more than half a century ago.

Harumi Daiichi Park, located on the site of Harumi Island Triton Square

More than half a century after the completion of the Harumi High-Rise Apartment, a high-rise condominium that has become very familiar in Chuo-ku.
Living on the upper floor can be regarded as a kind of social status, but what was it in a 10-story Harumi High-rise apartment?

According to the book, "At that time, lower floors were more popular because of lack of experience living on higher floors."
However, the number of people who want to go to the upper floor after moving in has increased.
One of the reasons for this is the good view.
"At that time, you could see Boso peninsula on the south side and Mount Fuji from the bathroom on the north side.

Bench in Harumi Daiichi Park (using thinned wood from Hinohara Village) and remain in Harumi High-rise Apartment.

In the first place, the surrounding environment, including the view, is an important decisive factor when moving.
The impression on Harumi High-rise apartment and its surroundings at that time can be heard from comments during the preliminary tour.

・It looks sturdy. I really liked that the house was made of wood, but I was wondering where my room was.
・It's fine. At first I thought it was like a warship because of the bare concrete. Foreigners also came to visit.
・The wall is a concrete block, and when broken, two houses come together. The impact you receive from architecture.
・Being close to Ginza is a great attraction. However, the surrounding area was mostly metropolitan land, and it was imaged like a sandbox.
・At that time, there was only Toden, and traffic was inconvenient.
・There were many vacant lots and weeds, so there were snakes, thorns, fireflies, etc. I also caught the bat.
・It's Chuo-ku, the same as Ginza, but the impression that I've come to the countryside quite a bit. The impression of coming to clam digging.

Balcony handrails of the relocated and restored Harumi High-rise apartment
(Shooted in November 2021 at the UR Urban Organization and Apartment History Museum)

The impression varies from person to person.
Of course, it is interesting to see the valuable remains that remain physically, but from such records, it is also interesting to know the human nature of the residents and visitors at that time.

Currently, the UR Urban Organization / Apartment History Museum is moving toward opening in Akabanedai, Kita-ku in the spring of 2023.
In the meantime, why don't you visit Harumi Daiichi Park and think about Harumi High-Rise Apartment?

Here, "Memory of Harumi High-Rise Apartment" remains unintentionally.
The white objects installed behind the bench are the materials such as the outer corridor handrail panels and balcony handrails of the Harumi High-rise apartment preserved as a memorial!

When I visited this park in the spring of 2020, I never realized that it was remain because these remains were familiar with the park without discomfort.
However, by revisiting the relocated and restored Harumi High-Rise Apartment after visiting, I learned that the history of the time was alive in the park.
It would be wonderful to preserve the remain at the time and use it in a way that suits modern needs.
The more you know, the more interesting the research of Harumi High-rise apartments will continue.

We approach the pioneering of high-rise houses at the site of the former site that remains in Harumi (April 26, 2020).
[The 29th Excursion Series] Restoration, Harumi High-rise Apartment (Part 1)-Approaching the full picture of residents, rent, and rooms! ~ (November 15, 2021)
[The 30th Excursion Series] Restoration, Harumi High-rise Apartment (Medium)-First elevator and characteristic circular stairs-(November 18, 2021)
[Excursion Series No. 31] Restore, Harumi High-rise Apartment (Part 2)-Epoch-making! What is the future-oriented design? (November 21, 2021)

Harumi Daiichi Park
Address: 1-7-3, Harumi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Barrier-free information: There is an elevator (7:00 to 19:00)