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Tama Art University Library is only one of many exceptional works of the Japanese architect and the Pritzker Laureate of 2013 Toyo Ito (we spoke previously about the guru of architecture here).
His Tama building is completely merged with the context: it chases its nature and its form. This quality is not always easy to catch simply browsing pages of magazines. To understand it, one should visit the site, climb steep ramps of the campus, view the work from every perspective, lie on the grass, and enter the building.
Tama Art University Library is only one of many exceptional works of the Japanese architect and the Pritzker Laureate of 2013 Toyo Ito (we spoke previously about the guru of architecture here).
His Tama building is completely merged with the context: it chases its nature and its form. This quality is not always easy to catch simply browsing pages of magazines. To understand it, one should visit the site, climb steep ramps of the campus, view the work from every perspective, lie on the grass, and enter the building.
The light concrete structure seems to be cautiously landed, bringing no change to the site. Conventional solution to level the terrain is not the case here. The surface of the interior floor simply curves following the hilly shape of the ground. Hence, the inside space rapidly decompresses extending down the mount, and eventually evolves into a limitless height of the green park in front of the main façade.
Indeed, here curves are everywhere. Even facades flex and bow adapting themselves to the site.
The infinite number of arches appear here nothing else but a mere reflection of Japanese nature. Though traditionally arches represent an “artificial” man-made geometrical form, Ito’s ones seem to be crafted according to some different rules.
Hence, green waves of the surrounding mountains, of the site lower hills, of the dense billowy trees are imprinted into the building’s façade and the structure.
The infinite number of arches appear here nothing else but a mere reflection of Japanese nature. Though traditionally arches represent an “artificial” man-made geometrical form, Ito’s ones seem to be crafted according to some different rules.
Hence, green waves of the surrounding mountains, of the site lower hills, of the dense billowy trees are imprinted into the building’s façade and the structure.
Yet, not only the structure and the section reveal loyalty of the work to the context. The interior shields a small object that embraces the whole spirit and sentiment of the Ito’s work.
Something in-between a sofa and a bad (quite unusual item for a university library space in general) overlooks the green landscape.
Like the building is quietly lays between smooth hills of Tama, students are peacefully resting between bendy hills of the lounge couch taking its form.
Text and images by Maria Novozhilova
Something in-between a sofa and a bad (quite unusual item for a university library space in general) overlooks the green landscape.
Like the building is quietly lays between smooth hills of Tama, students are peacefully resting between bendy hills of the lounge couch taking its form.
Text and images by Maria Novozhilova