Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Paul Carr Jogging Trail
Vehicle Top 1
Barutana Memorial Area
External view
Dormition of the Mother of God Cathedral
Books, Beans, & Candles
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Osaka Organic Building

Organic Building

An office building covered from head to toe in over eighty variety of plants

Osaka, Japan

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Japanese buildings have a wide variety of architectural styles, creating colorful hodgepodges wherever one goes, rarely coordinated to fit together like in many European cities. The organic building is a great example of this. 

The structure was conceptualized by Gaetano Pesce in the mid 80s and opened in 1993, at that time a completely unique building that combined nature and architecture in one. 

The building is covered with a  dark fiberglass exterior, with each panel sporting a 'trumpet' that is pointed up at the sky. These trumpets each contain an unique plant, and are outfitted with an irrigation system that controls the level of moisture that the plant needs. In this way over 80 species can live in a very small area. 

The building is an office for a food processing company specializing in seaweed. 

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Architecture Plants Architectural Oddities Buildings

Know Before You Go

The building is freely accessible.

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Published

February 17, 2026

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/collection/archives/drawings-organic-building-19891993-osaka-japan-ca21-1/
Organic Building
Osaka, 542-0081
Japan
34.677328, 135.499142

Nearby Places

Dotonbori Hotel Front Pillars

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Fudo Myo-o Statue

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Gakutensoku

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Osaka

Osaka

Japan

Places 19
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Dotonbori Hotel Front Pillars

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Fudo Myo-o Statue

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Gakutensoku

Osaka, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Osaka

Osaka

Japan

Places 19
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Şehzadeler, Turkey

    Saruhan Bey Pine Tree

    A centuries-old pine tree is growing through the floor and roof of this building.

  • The former Wyoming National Bank buildings, known locally as “the onion” and “the egg beater.”

    Casper, Wyoming

    The 'M' Building and Tower

    Locally known as the "Onion” and the "Egg Beater,” Casper’s most recognizable buildings are beloved local landmarks to many, and eyesores to others.

  • The exterior of the Reversible Destiny Lofts Mitaka.

    Mitaka, Japan

    Reversible Destiny Lofts Mitaka

    A colorful, architectural experiment designed to increase a resident's longevity.

  • A colorful apartment building behind green trees shown at an angle.

    Berlin, Germany

    Unité d'Habitation of Berlin

    After local authorities changed the design, the building's architect, Le Corbusier, wanted nothing to do with it.

  • Belgrade, Serbia

    Televizorke

    Two buildings named after their windows that make it look like a sea of television sets plastered to a wall.

  • Madrid, Spain

    Torres Blancas

    Meant to resemble a massive tree, the building is the best example of Spanish organicist architecture in Madrid.

  • Banknote Building

    Kaunas, Lithuania

    Banknote Building

    Described as one of the Baltic region’s most daring and original construction projects.

  • Alnwick, England

    The Treehouse Restaurant at Alnwick Gardens

    This giant wooden treehouse within a sprawling garden has its own eatery.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.