toyo ito: 311 starting over from point zero

toyo ito giving presentation at the symposium ‘311: starting over from point zero’, organized by TOTO gallery ma image © designboom

designboom attended the symposium ‘311: starting over from point zero‘, held on november 2nd, 2011 at the university of tokyo, to coincide with the 311: lost homes exhibition at the TOTO gallery ma, where architect toyo ito lectured on ‘what we can do to aid rejuvenation and architecture’.

during his presentation, toyo ito speaks openly about his reasons for engaging with the reconstruction efforts in japan, the about the challenges he faced during the post-tsunami disaster with the sendai mediatheque. he elaborated on the ways his engagement with members of the temporary settlements were the driving force behind the ‘house-for-all’ campaign.

see designboom’s original coverage of the event here.

video © designboom

toyo ito describing the atmosphere at the sendai mediatheque image © designboom

‘my project has many contradictions and it’s ok. it is also full of excuses and that’s okay as well. I first decided to do the design like this, and then I tried to come up with other various ideas.’ – toyo ito

library in the sendai mediatheque during the aftershocks image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

temporary shelters image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

lack of public space in temporary settlements image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

completed framework in sendai image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

interior of the meeting house image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

sketch by toyo ito of the city of kamaishi image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

sketch by toyo ito of the central district of kamaishi image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

sketch by second grader of her vision of ‘house-for-all’ image courtesy of toyo ito, photographed by designboom

biography

architect, toyo ito was born in 1941. he graduated from the school of architecture at the university of tokyo in 1965. after working at kiyonori kikutake architects & associates, he established urban robot (urbot) in 1971; the firm was renamed toyo ito & associates, architects in 1979. among the many awards he has received, the ’86 and ’03 A I J prize for design; the ’02 golden lion for lifetime achievement from international architecture exhibition at the venice biennale; and the ’06 royal institute of british architecture(RIBA) royal gold medal.