Documentations

Originally built in 1991 at the end of the bubble era, the Sofitel Hotel in Tokyo, Japan was praised and criticized for its unusual shape.

The luxurious hotel with 83 rooms located near the Ueno Park, overlooking the Shinobazu Pond and the Ueno Zoo, was famous for its five-tier pagoda shape. While the architectural design concept was called "Tree of Life", it looked more like a Christmas tree.

After a complete renovation and reopening in September 1, 2000 the Sofitel Hotel closed its doors finally at the end of 2006 and the dismantling began, with the plans to transfer and rebuilt the building at a different location.

This documentation starts with the existing, but already closed hotel, the dismantling progress and the current situation without the distinctive view of an unusual and fascinating building.