The project involved the expansion of Ginza Mitsukoshi Department Store to include an adjoining property on its eastern side. While preserving the historically important Mitsukoshi Building, which has helped define the architectural style of the Ginza district, the plan involved more than building a new annex and connecting it to the main edifice. Under the city's urban revitalization zoning program, we could merge the new and the original buildings into one structure, thereby redirecting some of the Ginza's energy to the district's eastern area, improving pedestrian flow, and breathing new life into Ginza Mitsukoshi. The three-tiered facade blends with the surroundings, while the transition areas between the three facades comprise a passageway, an atrium, and the Ginza Terrace—each an attractive space for people to gather. The overall objective was to create a department store with an open, inviting atmosphere.