Senior Living

Sun City Tower Kobe

Sun City Tower Kobe is a premier Continuing Care Retirement Community on the city’s waterfront, designed to redefine senior living through hospitality-level design. Conceived as a peaceful harbor, the community offers residents a sanctuary within the city, where architecture, landscape, and interiors are seamlessly woven together. Nestled between majestic Mount Rokko to the north and Osaka Bay to the south, the tower and surrounding pavilions are arranged around a lush central garden that anchors community life. Light-filled, culturally sensitive spaces foster comfort, independence, and connection, creating a lifestyle that is both supportive and inspiring.

Location
Kobe, Japan
Owner
Half Century More
Architect
Richard Beard Architects
Landscape Architect
SWA
Builder
Kajima Corp.
Photographer
Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty
Lighting Consultant
Apeiro Design
Art Consultant
Art Advisory Services
Press
Interior Design, Interior Design, in Interiors
Team Members
Gerry Jue, Lauren McGuier, Julie Mohan

“Although the project was originally designed 15 years ago, because BAMO continually reviewed and restudied the interior design, we’re very happy with the fine project in Kobe. It has a contemporary style and matches with a modern lifestyle.

It is no exaggeration to say that HCM’s success was brought by BAMO’s excellent interior design.” M. Inamura Half Century More

Sun City Tower Kobe was conceived as a place where the quality of design could directly enhance the quality of life for an aging population. Interiors respond to cultural expectations while integrating subtle, senior-friendly features that never compromise on luxury. Travel distances are minimized, wayfinding is intuitive, and communal areas are scaled to encourage both activity and comfort.

Amenities are carefully programmed to support active and passive lifestyles: a spa with Japanese ofuros, a rooftop pool with mountain views, and fitness and massage rooms designed as sanctuaries of wellness. At ground level, the library, lounges, and ateliers open to gardens, reinforcing a connection to nature that uplifts daily life. Materials and lighting were selected to aid aging eyes, while furnishings combine residential warmth with discreet accessibility. The result is a community that balances dignity and delight, offering residents an environment as enriching as it is supportive.

Lantern in the Sky

Crowning the 35-story tower, the “lantern” is both an architectural icon and a vibrant social hub. Dining and lounge venues on the uppermost levels are designed to capture panoramic views of Kobe’s cityscape, mountains, and sea.

Here, darker woods, luxurious stone, and glowing accents create a refined atmosphere that contrasts with the lighter palette of the garden level below. Water View Dining frames the horizon with expansive glass walls, while City View Dining embraces warm tones and mountain vistas.

The Salon and bar at the pinnacle offer intimate spaces for gatherings, their design infused with cultural sensitivity and understated elegance. Together, these amenities transform the lantern into a symbol of community pride and a daily reminder of beauty.

“The trick is to address the needs of aging residents in a way that feels almost invisible. Every detail — whether a chair’s depth, the placement of art for orientation, or the balance of privacy and connection — was carefully considered to create an environment that supports independence while lifting the spirit.

For me, it was about designing spaces that offer comfort, dignity, and beauty in equal measure” Gerry Jue BAMO, Principal

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