TOYO ITO

SUBMITTED BY
MANI ARORA

INTRODUCTION
Toyo Ito is aJapanesearchitectknown for
creatingconceptual architecture, in which he seeks to
simultaneously express the physical andvirtualworlds.

He is a leading exponent of architecture that addresses the

contemporary notion of a "simulated" city, and has been
called "one of the world's most innovative and
influential architects.

Ito was born to Japanese parents in 1941 inSeoul, South

Korea, Heis credited with influencing a generation of
younger architects with his ideas about contemporary urban
forms.
Ito graduated fromTokyo University'sDepartment of
architecture
in 1965.

PHILOSOPHY
The work of Toyo Ito is often said to have affinities with
the ideas of philosophers such asMunesuke Mitaand
Gilles Deleuze.
He has expressed architecture as "clothing" for urban
dwellers, particularly in the contemporary Japanese
metropolis.

His Philosophy lies in aggressively exploring the

potentials of new forms and In doing so, finding
new spatial conditions that manifest the
philosophy of borderless beings.

CAREER
He worked forKiyonori KikutakeArchitect and Associates from
1965 to 1969 (alongsideItsuko Hasegawa) , in 1971 he
started his own studio inTokyo, named Urbot ("Urban Robot").

In 1979, the studio name was changed to Toyo Ito &

Associates.

Toyo Ito holds a professorship at theJapan Women's University.

He is also an honorary professor at theUniversity of North

Londonand has served as guest professor atColumbia
University.

He teaches atTama Art Universityas a Visiting Professor.

MAJOR PROJECTS

1986 -The tower of the winds

1991 -The eggs of the winds
2001 -Sendai Mediatheque
2002 - TheSerpentine Gallery, inHyde Park,London
2004 - TOD's Omotesando Building, Tokyo
2006- Vivo citySingapore at HarbourFront
2008- World Games StadiuminKaohsiung,Taiwan
2009- Za Koeji Theater , Tokyo
2009 - Torre Fira BCN Building,Barcelona,Spain

AWARDS
Architecture Institute of Japan AwardforSilver Hutin 1986
33rdMainichi Art AwardforYatsushiro Municipal
Museumin 1992
IAA 'interach 97' Grand Prix of the Union of Architects in
Bulgaria Gold Medal in 1997
Education Ministers Art Encouragement Prize in Japan in
1998,
Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in architecture from the
American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2000
Gold prize of the Japanese Good Design Award in 2001
RIBARoyal Gold Medalin 2005 For Sendai
Mediatheque
Frederick Kiesler Award for Architecture and the Arts 2008

SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE

INTRODUCTION
Sendai Mediatheque is multi-function complex
accommodating a mixed program of library, art
gallery, audio-visual library, film studio and caf.
It was a competition winning scheme chosen in 1995
from amongst 235 competing proposals.
Sendai Mediatheque is widely recognised as one of
Ito's seminal works.

RIBA AWARD
The Sendai Mediatheque project received the Royal Gold Medal
in 2006 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA

Its structural innovation, functional versatility, its

symbolic meaning for the residents of Sendai.

But perhaps what has made this building is a milestone is that

has tried to capture on architecture the ethereal, fluent,
multidirectional and virtual nature of the computer world
that characterizes our time.

CONCEPT
The general concept, evident already from the
competition entry, was the free public accessibility.
Located in an area of 50 x 50 m, the multimedia
library should contain several features: library,
internet booths, areas for watching DVDs, galleries,
cafes, etc.
Sendai Mediatheque is located in front of a grove and
surrounded on three sides by streets.

 Ito's proposal opted for transparency. Since the plot is

located in front of a large grove, it affords broad vistas
towards the boulevard, while shape of the trees is
used in the design of the structure

STEEL TUBULAR STRUCTURES

The space and light flow frankly between the

different levels of the building.

CONCEPTUAL DRAWING

SECTION

FORMAL DESIGN
The design is based on three basic elements:
1. Platform
2. Tubes
3. The skin

PLATFORMS
There are 7 platforms in the building.
These are the support where the functions are carried
out.
They are 80 cm. thick.

It is actually a grid of metallic beams welded to two

metallic plates, similar to those used in shipbuilding.
This metal grill can also be seen on the roof, crowning
the composition of the building.

TUBES
There are 13 bundles of steel tubular structures
covered in glass, resembling a twisted organic
structure like a weed.
They cross and support the platforms, extending
beyond the ceiling.

TUBES
Freely dispersed in the building, they vary in shape,
diameter, inclination and dimension, while providing
light to the interior. The larger tube has a vertical
circulation that connects the different levels of the
library.
Despite its fragile and transparent appearance, these
structures provide flexibility, strength and horizontal
and vertical stability to the building in an area of high
seismic activity and constant typhoons.

THE SKIN
It is a transparent membrane that allows fluid visual
communication between interior and exterior, and at
times the boundary between the two seems to vanish.
Ito proposed different facades according to the
character of the surrounding environment they
face.For example, the main faade, located on the
south side facing the boulevard, is a double layer of
glass (very useful in the winter months of strong winds
...

THE SKIN
The outer extends
slightly and
increases
the effect of
lightness of the
building.
The east faade.

THE SKIN
The west side facade, which faces another plot, is
opaque, coated with a metal frame that reveals the
emergency stairs. The north and east facades, which
face neighborhood streets, have different finishes on
each floor: glass, polycarbonate and aluminum.

BUILDING PROGRAM
The first floor, called Open Plaza, contains the
reception, a cafe and a store of books and magazines.
It is totally extroverted toward the street.

THE FIRST FLOOR LEVEL

 The second level is the children's library, internet and

administration. It is a very open space, defined only by
the furniture.
A very interesting aspect is that the separation
between the public reading area and the private
administration is simply a translucent curtain,
resembling a floating wall.

SECOND FLOOR LEVEL

 At the third level and fourth level (the fourth is

actually a mezzanine) are the area of loans of books
and reading rooms.

THIRD FLOOR LEVEL

FOURTH FLOOR LEVEL

 In the fifth and sixth floors exhibition galleries are

located, used by the citizens of Sendai.
Here, mobile rectilinear panels can be accommodated
to the needs of the exhibition, in a clear reference to
the sliding doors ofJapanese architecture.

FIFTH FLOOR LEVEL

SIXTH FLOOR LEVEL

 On the seventh floor there is a cinema and conference

rooms, which are wrapped in a matte glazed wall (Ito
calls it a "membrane") of curvilinear forms, that is
located in the middle of space.

 Here are also an area for listening tapes and DVDs and
areas of assembly. The furniture is also curvilinear and
organic.

SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN

LIGHTING

TOYO ITO CONTRAST WITH TADAO

ANDO

Tadao Ando, work is based in the Japanese tradition,

particularly in the use of light, and maintains a
rational, geometric, massive vocabulary and style.
Toyo Ito is not tied to any style, experimenting with
metaphorical themes, transparent forms and
electronic gadgets. Therefore, his works are closely
related to another aspect of the culture in Japan,

Grin Grin Central Park in Fukuoka prefecture,

Japan by toyo ito

Awaji Yumebutai,Kansai,japan by tadao ando

OTHER PROJECTS
ZA KOEJI THEATER, TOKYO

CONSTRUCTION CONCEPT

OTHER PROJECTS

Mikimoto, Ginza, Tokyo,

Japan, 2005

Serpentine Gallery (2002,

London)

THE EGG OF THE WINDS (1991)

DRAWINGS

THE TOWER OF THE WINDS

LIGHTING DURING NIGHT