Download - U-house,Toyo Ito
u‐houseToyo Ito
Caillen HassallRichard 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)
Tod’s Omotesando Building (2004, Tokyo)
Tower of Winds(1986, Yokohama)
VivoCity(2005, Singapore)
Tama Art University, Library(2007, Tokyo)
World Games Stadium(2008+, Taiwan)
u‐house
Exterior Aerial View of the U‐House, 1976
design concept
Interior View of Corridor
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
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”•Accentuated movement light, 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
Interior view of dining room looking into interior garden
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
•Monochrome white in flow zone reflects modernistic influences
•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.
View of skylight in main room View of dining area
deterioration
•Demolished in 1997
•Houses main purpose was for mourning
•Symbolism for a renewal of life