Tsunami Evacuation Complex: Terrasse Orange Toi / Imai Laboratory, IIS, U Tokyo + Nippon Koei Urban Space

The Terrasse Orange Toi project in Toi, Izu City, is designed as the first building in Japan to fully integrate tsunami disaster prevention and tourism functions. Toi is a traditional hot spring town, rich in Japanese landscape, characterized by its pine groves. Though bustling with tourists during the beach season, the town faces the significant risk of a 10-meter tsunami reaching its shores in just six minutes following a Nankai megathrust earthquake. However, after much discussion, the local community decided not to build large-scale seawalls that would spoil the scenic beauty of Suruga Bay, unlike other areas. Instead, they decided to protect the area by declaring Toi a Tsunami Disaster Special Caution Zone, the only such zone in Japan, and building tsunami evacuation towers.