Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

We have followed the work of Toyo Ito for many years, always surprised, inspired and refreshed by the continually progressive and challenging nature of the spaces and the buildings. The spaces reflect the architect’s philosophy that architecture is for human beings. He states that his buildings are designed to look good, not when empty, but when inhabited by humans. There is an underlying wish to make connections with nature, through the structure, or through the creation of rippling or reflected light as when surrounded by trees. His structures are extraordinarily innovative as seen in the Sendai Mediatheque for instance, where tree trunk-like tubes create a sort of structural forest. There is a sense of liberation in his buildings, where people can find their own place within the community of users.
“I don’t want people to live removed from nature”, he says. In responding to the FREESPACE theme he proposes that his freespace be where visitors can “feel nature despite the space being artificial”.
At the Biennale Architettura 2018 he makes a space “free from the architect’s ego”.
A space which offers peace and calm in the middle of the bustling Corderie exhibition, a space where the visitor can feel a sense of togetherness. This represents the key role of architecture.
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