Rose Garden (ローズガーデン)

The Rose Garden is a commercial building completed in 1977 in Kitano, in Kobe's Chūō Ward. It is the first of Tadao Ando's works in this district, where he went on to design several others; it was the starting point for many more shops designed by Ando in the surrounding streets. Ando's twin brother was its producer.

In March 1977 the Kobe prepared-food company Rock Field opened there the very first shop of one of its brands. Ando later designed several factories for the company.

The building is of reinforced concrete, with one basement level and three levels above ground. Its outer walls are of red brick, under a glazed, triangular gabled roof; a neon sign completes the façade. At the back the concrete is left exposed.

The interior is barer than the exterior. At the centre a roofless courtyard opens the building to the sky; the passages and stairs linking the floors work like staggered half-levels. The walls, composed geometrically, produce a labyrinthine effect.

The building is still in use: offices and galleries occupy it. The top floor housed a bar.

Visitors may go into the building, taking care not to disturb the shops and services that occupy it. Some parts, such as the former bar on the top floor, open only during events.