Toyo Ito is one of the most influential contemporary architects who has significantly contributed to shaping modern architectural philosophy. He is known for his unique style that blends the virtual world with physical space, transforming them into architectural environments that reflect the balance between humans and nature. #Humancentereddesign #Japanesearchitecture #PritzkerPrize #ToyoIto
Completed in 2022 in Singapore, Singapore. Images by Madeni Jais, Form Practice. Gaia – Asia's most expansive wooden edifice - Named after the Greek Earth Goddess, Gaia represents a bold marriage between Toyo Ito &...
Toyo Ito designs trio of mushroom-like public toilets in Tokyo
Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner Toyo Ito has created a public toilet within three mushroom-shaped blocks as his contribution to the Tokyo Toilet project.
Ito's distinctive toilet was built to replace a previous toilet block at the bottom of a flight of steps leading up to the Yoyogi Hachimangu shrine in the Shibuya district of Tokyo.
Toyo Ito has designed a mushroom-shaped toilet in Tokyo
The Japanese architect broke his facility into three cylindrical blocks that are topped with overhanging dome-shaped roofs to create a form "reminiscent of [the] mushrooms" that grow in the forest surrounding the nearby shrine.
The Japanese architect aimed to design a calm, welcoming facility that would encourage people to use the public toilets.
The block is broken into three small buildings
"I didn't want to use public toilets as much as I could, even as a man," said Ito.
"Therefore, this time, I would like to try a casual design that can be used calmly and with peace of mind."
Each of the cylindrical blocks is covered in pale pastel tiles
The largest central mushroom is attached to the back wall of the site and contains an accessible toilet.
Freestanding blocks on either side contain two cubicles for women and a cubicle and pair of urinals for men.
All three were clad in bands of red, pink and white tiles that extend onto the floor of the facility.
The roofs of the blocks are raised above the walls to allow natural light and air into the toilets.
The toilet is near a small woodland containing the Yoyogi Hachimangu shrine
By breaking the block into three Ito believes that the toilets will be a safe space for all users.
"I hope that the Yoyogi-Hachiman Public Toilet installed this time will be a 'toilet that gives women a sense of security that can be used even at night' and a 'toilet that has an inconspicuous design and can be used casually'."
A gap at the top of each cylinder allows light and air into the toilets
The toilet block is the fourth realised by a Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner as part of non-profit Nippon Foundation's project to upgrade facilities in the downtown Shibuya district of Tokyo.
His facility joins fellow Pritzker winners Tadao Ando's circular toilet, Fumihiko Maki's block topped with a "cheerful roof" and Shigeru Ban's pair of transparent public toilets.
In total 17 toilets are set to be built as part of the project. Other recently completed buildings created as part of the project include a "friendly" house-shaped toilet designed by Japanese fashion designer Nigo and a cedar-clad block designed by Kengo Kuma.
The post Toyo Ito designs trio of mushroom-like public toilets in Tokyo appeared first on Dezeen.
#publicandleisure #all #architecture #tokyo #toilets #toyoito #tokyotoilet
Architects reflect on Tōhoku earthquake community centres ten years on
The architects behind 16 disaster relief shelters built following the Tōhoku earthquake as part of Toyo Ito's Home-for-All project have shared their thoughts on the buildings that are still in use as community centres.
Home-for-All saw projects realised in Japan to provide respite for people affected by the disaster and to aid long-term community rebuilding efforts.
The volunteer-run project saw 16 centres built that were designed by Toyo Ito, Kazuyo Sejima, Riken Yamamoto, Astrid Klein, Mark Dytham, Yukinari Hisayama, Michiko Okano, Jun Yanagisawa, Tetsuo Kondo, Maki Onishi and Yuki Hyakuda.
Top: The community hall by Klein Dytham Architecture. Above: Heita Home-for-All by Reiken Yamamoto and Field Shop
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that occurred off of the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, which caused a devastating tsunami with waves over 40 metres high.
The Tohoku earthquake was the strongest ever recorded to hit Japan, killing 15,000 people and displacing over 200,000 others. The tsunami also inundated a power plant and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
The Heita community centre features an open hearth
Ten years after the disaster the architects involved in the relief scheme reflected on what the project means to them.
"Home-for-All has two purposes," explained Japanese architect Toyo Ito, who set up the non-profit.
"First it is a place where people would like to gather every day, even if they do not have a particular reason for doing so," said the Pritzker Prize winner. "The other purpose is to be a place where we can reconsider the architecture that we have created."
Klein Dytham Architecture's Home-for-All hall
As part of the project, Klein Dytham Architecture built a community hall for the city of Sōma, which provides a safe indoor play area away from radiation for children in Fukushima Prefecture.
"A Home For All instils a sense of pride in the community during difficult times," said Tokyo-based architect Mark Dytham, co-founder of Klein Dytham Architecture.
"They are not just simple temporary shelters, but are built with love, care and pride for the community to feel at home."
The hall gives children a safe place to play
Riken Yanamoto and Field Shop contributed by designing rows of temporary housing in Heita organised around a community centre with an open hearth under a central chimney, where people can gather on cold evenings.
SANAA built a steel and wood pavilion with an undulating roof along the coast of Tsukihama for fishermen to rest and work in the shade. Chinese architect Yang Zhao built a concrete marketplace for the same fishing community nearby.
"Personally, Home-for-All is also a place where I have been taught about things that I had not even thought of before," said SANAA co-founder Kazuyo Sejima.
"When we held our first meeting, I asked what kind of home would be nice. A participant responded, 'Everything has been washed away. Moving forward, we are going to build our new city. We are going to build it ourselves.'" she explained.
Yang Zhao's fishermen's pavilion for Toyo Ito's post-tsunami reconstruction project
"Up to that point, when I designed architecture, it was because somebody wanted me to come up with a design because there were certain circumstances and certain issues. I thought my involvement was to complete these requests," she continued.
"I was taught in a profound manner that instead, there was a need for us to think ourselves about what kind of place was really necessary and that we can and must create the future that we will live in ourselves."
All of the architects' thoughts were compiled in a video released to mark the anniversary.
Photos courtesy of Home-for-All.
The post Architects reflect on Tōhoku earthquake community centres ten years on appeared first on Dezeen.
#all #architecture #news #japan #disasterrelief #toyoito #communitycentres #homeforall
Architects reflect on Tōhoku earthquake community centres ten years on
The architects behind 16 disaster relief shelters built following the Tōhoku earthquake as part of Toyo Ito's Home-for-All project have shared their thoughts on the buildings that are still in use as community centres.
Home-for-All saw projects realised in Japan to provide respite for people affected by the disaster and to aid long-term community rebuilding efforts.
The volunteer-run project saw 16 centres built that were designed by Toyo Ito, Kazuyo Sejima, Riken Yamamoto, Astrid Klein, Mark Dytham, Yukinari Hisayama, Michiko Okano, Jun Yanagisawa, Tetsuo Kondo, Maki Onishi and Yuki Hyakuda.
Top: The community hall by Klein Dytham Architecture. Above: Heita Home-for-All by Reiken Yamamoto and Field Shop
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that occurred off of the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, which caused a devastating tsunami with waves over 40 metres high.
The Tohoku earthquake was the strongest ever recorded to hit Japan, killing 15,000 people and displacing over 200,000 others. The tsunami also inundated a power plant and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.
The Heita community centre features an open hearth
Ten years after the disaster the architects involved in the relief scheme reflected on what the project means to them.
"Home-for-All has two purposes," explained Japanese architect Toyo Ito, who set up the non-profit.
"First it is a place where people would like to gather every day, even if they do not have a particular reason for doing so," said the Pritzker Prize winner. "The other purpose is to be a place where we can reconsider the architecture that we have created."
Klein Dytham Architecture's Home-for-All hall
As part of the project, Klein Dytham Architecture built a community hall for the city of Sōma, which provides a safe indoor play area away from radiation for children in Fukushima Prefecture.
"A Home For All instils a sense of pride in the community during difficult times," said Tokyo-based architect Mark Dytham, co-founder of Klein Dytham Architecture.
"They are not just simple temporary shelters, but are built with love, care and pride for the community to feel at home."
The hall gives children a safe place to play
Riken Yanamoto and Field Shop contributed by designing rows of temporary housing in Heita organised around a community centre with an open hearth under a central chimney, where people can gather on cold evenings.
SANAA built a steel and wood pavilion with an undulating roof along the coast of Tsukihama for fishermen to rest and work in the shade. Chinese architect Yang Zhao built a concrete marketplace for the same fishing community nearby.
"Personally, Home-for-All is also a place where I have been taught about things that I had not even thought of before," said SANAA co-founder Kazuyo Sejima.
"When we held our first meeting, I asked what kind of home would be nice. A participant responded, 'Everything has been washed away. Moving forward, we are going to build our new city. We are going to build it ourselves.'" she explained.
Yang Zhao's fishermen's pavilion for Toyo Ito's post-tsunami reconstruction project
"Up to that point, when I designed architecture, it was because somebody wanted me to come up with a design because there were certain circumstances and certain issues. I thought my involvement was to complete these requests," she continued.
"I was taught in a profound manner that instead, there was a need for us to think ourselves about what kind of place was really necessary and that we can and must create the future that we will live in ourselves."
All of the architects' thoughts were compiled in a video released to mark the anniversary.
Photos courtesy of Home-for-All.
The post Architects reflect on Tōhoku earthquake community centres ten years on appeared first on Dezeen.
#all #architecture #news #japan #disasterrelief #toyoito #communitycentres #homeforall
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Alejandro Soriano
The Japan Times
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