Toyo Ito and Cherry-blossom

Last manth I went to Utunomiya to see a project named SUMIKA. In this project four famous architects designed three houses and one pavillion. Toyo Ito was one of the architect and he designed the pavillion. I enjoyed each of the four projects, however I would like to write about Ito's pavillion in this arcticle. I'm going to write about the three other projects in the next.


The pavillion designed by Ito was the visitor center of the SUMIKA project. Initially Many of the visitors recived a short lecture about the SUMIKA project at the pavillion. The form of the pavillion was a very simple square box, but the structure was very unique. It was covered geometric patterns made from bonded wood.The structure itself was bonded wood. So,there were few vertical pillars or parallel beams inside. The most interesting point of this architecture is that in appearance it looked very eccentric but once inside this eccentricty disappered and I could enjoy this bright and open space. I guess the unique structure give this impression. Usually walls and ceilings are completely different from each other. But Ito successfully used the same geometric patterns to close the difference between walls and ceilings. To cover a space with only one pattern, we realize that the space continues into its surroundings. I think this continuousness is the character of Ito's architecture. But it took me a month to understand the reason why Ito designed his architecture like this.


A month later, I watched a TV program featuring Ito Toyo and his latest works. In the program he said that
"Architecture always needs structures and materials. That is inevitable fact. But I belive these structures and materials must not harm human acution. Architecture makes human more free, both mentally and physically. In this meaning, I think cherry-blossom tree has ideal architecture. This season, Cherry trees makes space under its own cherry-blossoms as just architecture makes space for peple. Every one who comes to view cherry-blossoms can choose there place freely and do anything they want,drinking,daicing,singing,playing and so on."
When I watched the program, I thought what I felt in the pavillion was freedom that Ito pointed out in this program.


Now Ito is 67 years old. At this age, many of people retire from office and enjoy after retireing. But Ito still stands at the forefront of architectural design. He inspired me very much because I'm only 28 years old.




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