MITAKA DISTRICT
REVERSIBLEShusaku DESTINY LOFTS ARAKAWA + Madeline GINS 2005 2-2-8 Osawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo
The building was dedicated to Helen Keller and as it is purposefully designed to engage and challenge the user. This is to prevent any user from becoming too familiar with the space and settling into a routine. The 9 unit housing complex is among the first to employ “procedural architecture� as a design strategy, which allows a computer to design the project by designing modules and tasking a computer program to organize said modules.
BUNKYO DISTRICT
ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL Kenzo Tange, 1987 Pritzker Prize Laureate
1964 3-15-16 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Although the Cathedral was completed in the 60’s, it is a part of a special type of architecture that doesn’t belong to any time or age. Despite the fact that it is a monochromatic structure the combination of natural light, its own curves and U-shaped profiles emphasize the dynamicity of the structure. This juxtaposition of the dense urban context with the swooping metal exterior makes this an iconic structure in Tokyo.
SHINJUKU DISTRICT
FUMIKO HAYASHI MEMORIAL HALL Unknown 1941 2-20-1 Nakai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Due to the earthquake of 1923 and the World War II firebombings, not many traditional-style structures are left to see in the city. Miraculously, this home, which was designed in the architectural style of the Edo-era, survived the firebombings. It is now a museum dedicated to Fumiko Hayashi, a novelist who called this her home in the last years of her life.
MINATO DISTRICT
21 Tadao 21Ando, DESIGN SIGHT 1995 Pritzker Prize Laureate 2007 9-7-6 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tokyo’s first museum dedicated to design. Signature piece of Pritzker Prize winning architect, Tadao Ando, who designed the piece as a reference to “Japanese aesthetics of old.” Although the museum is monochromatic, Ando masterfully uses cast-in place concrete and natural light to create unique and dynamic spaces.
SHAKADENTakanaka TEMPLE Corporation 1975 1-7-8 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
The temple complex is comprised of the Shakaden Hall, temple grounds, corridors and Kotani Hall that are interposed on three levels. The juxtaposition of light, sound, air and imagery produced by equipment impart a sense of harmony with the architecture. There is also a large cistern which is used to collect freshwater to be distributed in the case of a natural disaster.
DENTSU BUILDING Jean Nouvel, 2008 Pritzker Prize Laureate
2002 1-8-1 Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo The Dentsu Building is the first building Pritzker Prize Laureate, Jean Nouvel, designed outside of Europe. It is the 11th tallest building in Tokyo. Nouvel’s concept was to juxtapose strength and fragility while simultaneously attempting to capture the immateriality of light itself. These were achieved through the use of a thin steel structure and a glass facade. The glass facade has a very subtle gray-to-transparent gradient, where the center of the building has the darkest gray implying strength and the edges of the building are transparent to reveal the thinness, or fragility, of the floor slabs. The building also employs a unique shading mechanism, each glass panel has a ceramic dot in its center whose temperature is monitored and when the glass panel gets too hot, the computer lowers a series of internal shades to protect the interior space. The immateriality of light is explored through a large atrium and the steel structure is exposed showing the strength of the project.
SHIBUYA DISTRICT
AUDI FORUMBenjamin TOKYO Warner 2006 6 Chome-12-18 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
The aptly nicknamed, “Iceberg Building,” draws influence from a combination of a crystal iceberg and a ‘plastic bottle that has been through the PET.’ The building is unique in comparison to other Audi dealerships by only having the Audi logo displayed once on the exterior of the building. However, the designer opted to add the world’s largest Audi logo in lieu of placing many smaller logos. The facade is composed of three different types of laminated glass with a blue tint applied to enhance the edges of the panels, which makes the building look like a large crystal rising from the ground. The complex geometry reflects light from all angles, so in order to fully take advantage of this the architect added thin silver layers to the laminated glass to give the glass a more three-dimensional quality.
TOKYO NATIONAL GYMNASIUM Kengo Tange, 1987 Pritzker Prize Laureate 1964 2-1 Jinnan, Shibuya, Tokyo
This building was designed and built to house the first Olympics in Asia. The Ministry of Education commissioned Kengo Tange, a Japanese star-chitect to create a signature building for the event. Tange borrowed the constructive shell concept from Le Corbusier's Philip Pavilion in Brussels and applied it to the gymnasium, which was a design choice initially criticized as gyms had never been distinguished with a shell. The building is constructed of steel, aluminum, glass, and concrete.
CHUO DISTRICT
NAKAGIN CAPSULE TOWER Kisho Kurakawa
1972 8-16-10 Ginza, ChĹŤĹ?-ku, Tokyo
The Capsule Tower marks the birth of the Japanese Metabolism movement. The structure is composed of two concrete towers, which are interconnected, that provide the framework for the 140 prefabricated modules making up the building. Each capsule was prefabricated off site and fitted with utilities and furnishings and individually cantilevered from one of the concrete cores, so that one may be removed at a later date and not affect any of the others. The units are designed to be replaceable and are connected to the core through only four high tension bolts, however no units have been replaced since construction was completed. This along with poor maintenance has caused the building to fall into a state of disrepair and the community have begun discussions on demolishing the building. These discussions have increased since Kurakawa passed away in 2007. The building was recently featured in The Wolverine, where it was portrayed as a love hotel.
MAISON HERMES TOKYO Renzo Piano, 1998 Pritzker Prize Laureate
2001 5-4-19 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Renzo Piano is often described as a master of controlling light and his masterful control can be seen in this building. He uses a dense grid and a translucent floor slab to give the appearance of 'lightness.' He attempts to create a 'quiet' space in the heart of Tokyo's business district. The design intent of Piano was to mimic a 'magic lantern,' which he felt symbolized Japan.
MIKIMOTA GINZA 2 Toyo Ito, 2013 Pritzker Prize Laureate
2005 133-0061 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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CHIYODA DISTRICT
INTERNATIONAL FORUM Rafael Vinoly Arquitectos
1997 5-1 Marunouchi 3-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
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