(C) Nacása & Partners Inc.

Sendai Mediatheque
The Sendai Mediatheque is a proposal for architecture with formalist architecture, ours is simple yet conceptual proposal
new view for program. This project was completed in August consisting of three elements: “plate”, “tube”, and “skin”.
2000, about five and a half years after the open competition The “mediateque,” composed of these three simple elements, will
was held by Sendai City in 1995. serve as a place to unify the primitive human body connected to nature
This facility contains an art gallery, library, a visual image media with the body that is part of the fluid electronic world.
center and a service center for people with visual or hearing This project took six years to complete and eventually opened at the
disabilities. From the time of competition and through the basic end of January 2001 as a symbol of public space for the citizens of
design process, our prime objective was to destroy conven- Sendai. With a lively atmosphere like an urban plaza, it now attracts up
tional archetypes such as art museums or libraries; we carefully to 4 ,000 people every day.
analyzed each program, eventually recomposing them to
Sendai Mediatheque Maximum Height: 36.49m
create a “mediatheque”. Therefore, the basic plans were devel- Location : Sendai City, Miyagi Pref., Japan Architect :
oped through consultation with specialist from various fields Client : Sendai City Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects
and through numerous hearings to exchange opinions with Principal Use :library, gallery, theatre Structural Engineers :
Design : Apr. 1995 - Aug.1997 Sasaki Structural Consultants
Sendai’s citizens. Construction : Dec. 1997 - Aug. 2000 Mechanical Engineers :
Since such discussions are endless, flexibility is required in the Main Structure :Steel frame, reinforced concrete ES Associates, Sogo Consultants+
Site Area : 3,948.72 m2 Otaki E&M Consultants
architectural “hardware” that can respond to any development
Building Area : 2,933.12 m2 Lighting Design : LIGHT DESIGN INC.
or can accommodate any program in the future. We have not Total Floor Area : 21,682.15 m2 General Contractor : JV of Kumagai +
changed our idea since the time of competition rather than a Scale of Building: 7 stories and 2 basements Takenaka + Ando + Hashimoto

2F Information 3F 4F Library
1F Cafe

Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

Taichung Metropolitan Opera House
A symbol of fluid exchange
By encouraging exchange and communication, the Taichung within a dense urban high-rise development, the Sound Cave is not
Metropolitan Opera House accommodates a rich diversity of only interior, but connects seamlessly with the outside, merging
cultural activities. The fluid continuity of the structure reflects the with the surrounding park and creating a place of communica-
idea that the theatrical arts are spatial arts which combine the tion between visitors and artists. Neurone-like networks of
body, art, music, and performance. While providing optimum water and greenery continue in the park and thereby integrate the
settings for traditional Eastern and Western types of perfor- building in its urban surroundings. (Such networks of water and
mances, our design for the Taichung Opera moves beyond greenery are similar to a structural model of Taichung City itself.)
the constraints of a traditional Opera House. We are envisaging While a main entrance is strategically placed at the end of the green
an open structure which actively engages its surroundings axis between the New City Council and Government buildings, the
in all directions and creates opportunities for myriad encoun- Opera has more than one front, inviting people from several sides
ters between high art and popular art, artists and visitors, stage into a labyrinthine network of diverse spaces.
and auditorium, interior and exterior. We call this space the The construction of this building will be started next year 2009.
"Sound Cave". Taichung Metropolitan Opera House Architect :
Location : Taichung, Taiwan Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects
A horizontally and vertically continuous network
Client : Taichung City Government Structural Engineers :
The Sound Cave is a both horizontally and vertically continuous Principal use :theatre, shop, park Ove Arup & Partners
network. Even before entering one of the three theatres, the Design : Sept. 2005 - Sept.2008 Mechanical Engineers :
Sound Cave is perceived as a fascinating and flexible "acous- Main Structure :Reinforced concrete Takenaka Corporation
Site Area : 57,685.78 m2
tic space", which – in three dimensions – connects Arts Plaza, Building Area : 8,052 m2
workshops, foyers, restaurants and so on. Located in a park Total Floor Area : 34,067 m2

Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects

 (C) Ishiguro Photographic Institute

Tama Art University Library (Hachioji campus)

Initially we proposed to place entire volume of the library this way, spatial continuity is maintained between inside and outside
underground to achieve a space resembles a cave. However, space. This spatial concept will give freedom and richness to the archi-
for various reasons we found that the proposal was impos- tecture, receiving the natural energy that rises up from the earth and
sible. Although we start designing the volume above the transforming it into an architectural order.
ground, we still tried to build a subterranean space on the
ground. We designed a continuous dome-like space by
subtracting volumes from the “subterranean space above the
Project title Tama Art University Library (Hachioji campus)
ground”. We trimmed down more volumes and it became a Location Hachioji City, Tokyo, Japan
structural system of a series of domes and arches. Client Tama Art University
Program Library
Structural engineers Sasaki Structural Consultants
The arches have been designed to follow gentle curves at Site area Associate Architect: Kajima Design
different angles. These continuous curves of arches articulate Mechanical engineer Associate Architect: Kajima Design
159,184.87m2
space into blocks of squares and triangles. Due to the strate- Building area 2,224.59m2
gic placement of the furniture that penetrates the space, Total floor area 5,639.46m2
Design Period 2004.4 2005.10
paradoxically contradicting characteristics were attributed to Construction Period 2005.11 2007.2
the reading area; flow and stand. The slope of the ground Main Frame Steel + Concrete mixed structure
floor follows the natural decline of the land so that the archi- Reinforced Concrete construction (Basement)

tecture is well integrated into the surrounding environment. In

Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects