Sendai Mediatheque

On the bus ride back from Kamaishi we stopped in Sendai to visit Ito's design from 95'.  Video in building during 3.11:  Earthquake in Sendai

Render from Ito's office probably during the schematic design phase.  Ito wanted a space where "seaweed-like" elements would serve as the structure and cores of the building (elevators, stairs, HVAC all within structure).

Lobby

Materials, furniture and program varies floor to floor.
7th floor. 

6th floor

5th floor

In the elevator

Damage from the earthquake.

Ito-san walked us through his building...

And popped up in the gift shop!

fries and ketchup.. YES.

Kamaishi City

The overnight bus.
A 6-hour (semi-sleepless) drive starting at midnight.  When we wake up, we arrive in a different world.... The Tohoku region of Japan where 3.11 severely damaged the coastline.

3.11 The Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that swallowed Kamaishi City.
The city is still in disrepair.  Touring the area, almost a year later, it is hard to believe so much destruction and debris sits untouched.

The massive flood gates were broken by the 14 foot waves. 

A survivor, who talked to us about his experience, now lives in the temporary housing provided by the government.  He was closing the flood gates when the tsunami hit and was later rescued from the water.

Toyo Ito (center) walks through the atrium of the temporary housing units.

Piles and piles of debris.

"Home-for-all"- a space for the people within the temporary housing units to gather designed by Toyo Ito's studio.  Confined to small spaces for most of the day, the people living in the temporary housing now have a space to talk, cook and relax.  It is my studio's project to design more spaces like this throughout Kamaishi City.
Domus: "Toyo Ito: Re-building from disaster"

A Very Herzog and Ito Birthday

Tods Store by Toyo Ito (my professor!)

Here is an older photo of the site, before the building next to Tod's was demolished.  The juxtaposition of old and new was beautiful, currently it is a construction site... tbd what will pop up next.  Tokyo is always changing.. an ephemeral city.

Inside...

One of the buildings in Tokyo I have wanted to see for a long time!  Love it, the structure and the facade are informed by the buildings location in Omotesando, an area famous for its tree-lined street.  Photos not allowed inside, but managed to get a few...

Prada Store Tokyo by Herzog and de Meuron

and the inside is even more amazing...

munchkin spottings

I'm pretty big here

Visit to Takenaka

Every few weeks we take a trip to Takenaka corporation headquarters about an hour away (also in Tokyo).  Takenaka is a huge construction, architecture and engineering firm (that often collaborates with Ito).  They are co-hosting our studio here so they plan events and information seminars with the studio.

Outside Takenaka.

The even they held a welcome party for us... best food I've had here so far.  Ito's studio came and so did a bunch of Takenaka heavy-hitters. There is always a slight divide at these events (english speakers and non-english speakers).   It always helps to have someone who can translate around.  

Lots of subway rides... 

Lots of masks.

Off to school we go...

The subway ride to Kamiyacho (the studio!)

We travel about 45 minutes to the studio, heres the street.

YES!!

Ken's our seminar teaching, Metabolic Tokyo.  He knows everything and is super friendly and welcoming.  And.. bonus, speaks english (has lived everywhere from ny to london to here).. not as common here as you would think.

Ken took us on a walking tour of the neighborhood around school.. heres whats there:

Shrines are marked by this, and pop up all over the place.

Not as often as vending machines though... Almost one on every block (like starbucks in nyc, times five).  You can pay with your metro card, and they take up 30% of tokyo's electricity! 

Tokyo Tower- our view from school.