Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Caillen Hassall
Richard Siu
about the architect
伊
東
豊
雄
Itō Toyo'o
Toyo Ito
‐ Born in Keijo 1941, during Japanese Colonization (present‐day Seoul, South Korea)
‐ Graduated from Tokyo University, Department of Architecture in 1965
‐ Started his own studio “Urban Robot” in 1971
‐ Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects. In 1979
‐ Early work consisted of many private housing projects that revealed the hidden layer
of urban life in Japan.
‐ White U, 1976
‐ Silver Hut, 1984
recent works
Sendai Mediatheque (2000, Sendai)
Serpentine Pavillion (2002, London)
Mikimoto Ginza 2 (2005, Tokyo)
VivoCity
(2005, Singapore)
Tod’s Omotesando Building Tower of Winds
(2004, Tokyo) (1986, Yokohama)
World Games Stadium Tama Art University, Library
(2008+, Taiwan) (2007, Tokyo)
u‐house
Exterior Aerial View of the U‐House, 1976
design concept
Design Concept:
•Built 1976
•Located in the center of Tokyo
•Designed for Toyo Ito’s older sister, who had
just lost her husband to cancer
•Client previously live in high rise apartment
•Design was to emphasize family life & family
activities
•Curved U shape to reject powerful symmetry
for gentle curve
•Design Reflects clients need for reflection and
mourning
Interior View of Corridor
North Facade
Interior View of Garden
View of
Entrance
flow & lag
Flow & Lag:
•Ito creates two separate spatial
experiences through design of enclosed
loop
•The “Flow Zone” Interior view of
dining room looking
•Accentuated movement light,
into interior garden
airflow, variations
•Inorganic White
• The “Lag Zone”
•Calm, introspective spaces
•Black earth surrounded by concrete
•Design caters not only to everyday
needs of but also to emotional needs
•Flow and Lag zones created through
color, materiality and form
Interior view of main room
curved surfaces, light and shade
Curved Surfaces,
Light & Shade
•Curves encourage movement,
gives flow to static spaces, also
creates lighting effects
•Form and placement of openings
and skylights
•Varied Patterns of light
•Use of white creates:
•Emptyness
•Void
•Reflective of grief for client
•Limited use of white on outside to strengthen the use of white on inside.
deterioration
•Demolished in 1997
•Houses main purpose was for
mourning
•Symbolism for a renewal of life