16 Nov. 2009
Toyo Ito gives presentation on his latest projects at Universidad Europea de Madrid
The renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito presented his latest projects to students of the School of Fine Arts and Architecture during a conference hosted by Universidad Europea de Madrid. The expansion of the FIRA Barcelona and the Parque de la Gavia were two of the works that the architect cited in his presentation that are currently under construction in our country.
Toyo Ito covered the projects he had completed since 1960, dividing the presentation into three chapters: symbolization of the natural environment, openness towards the environmental space and liberation; to in his words “enable people”. Works that approached architecture from the first concept included the Sendai Mediatheque, the expansion of the FIRA Barcelona and the Suites Avenue building, which is also located in the same Catalan city. “With the Sendai Mediatheque I received much criticism, nevertheless, I was sure of my ideas, and indeed, they were eventually accepted. This project endowed me with great courage in my professional career”, stated the Japanese architect.
During the second chapter of his presentation Ito went over works such as Grin, Grin, Meiso no Mori (Forest of Meditation), the Main Stadium World Games 2009 and the Parque de la Gavia, this last project being situated in Vallecas, a neighborhood in Madrid. The project will employ a water purification system called watersystem designed to restore the operation of the La Gavia waterway, now dried up as a result of urban development. And lastly the architect explained projects such as the library at Tama Art University, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Center at University of California, Berkeley and the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House.
Toyo Ito also had some words of advice for the students, encouraging them to “have courage to stand up for their own ideas” in the field of architecture, he also expressed his gratitude for having such a large audience in attendance to see his presentation.
For its uniqueness and autonomy, the work of Toyo Ito has become known internationally as a point of reference for contemporary architecture. His work reflects a belief in the study and contemplation upon the role that architecture has to play in contemporary society. In his work he has introduced approaches to concepts such as nature or the digital world along with contemporary subjects such as sustainability, themes reflected in projects such as the White U house or the Pao: Tokyo Nomad Girl Project, the Sendai Mediatheque or the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion (London).
In addition to breaking new frontiers of architecture this Japanese architect has given the discipline new perspectives from which to approach an architectural project, understanding architecture as not merely a collection of construction materials by also taking into account the immaterial, the ephemeral presence a building has. Some of his most recognized projects that explore these ideas include the Silver Hut the Yatsushiro Municipal Museum and the Tower of Winds in Yokohama.
Casa Asia has put together an exposition of the projects of this Japanese architect currently under construction in Spain which will be on display until the 28th of February. Finally today Toyo Ito is due to receive the Gold Medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes of Madrid.