venice 2012 architecture biennale: day one – live!

 

for the japan national pavilion exhibit in the 2012 international architecture biennale in venice, commisioner toyo ito presents young japanese architects kumiko inui, sou fujimoto, akihisa hirata and photographer naoya hatakeyama. ‘architecture. possible here? home-for-all’ is a proposal to offer housing solutions for all the people who lost their homes in the great east japanearthquake of 2011, specifically in the city of rikuzentakata.

 

‘architecture. possible here? home-for-all’ responds to architecturein the modern era by re-evaluating its aesthetic and formal definition within the context of a site currently undergoing a revitalization. a series of potential projects are displayed atop bases made of solid wood planks. natural timber columns seem to hold the pavilion from the open courtyard below, echoing the the schemes of each dwelling anchored amongst a series of vertical pillars. full-size panoramas of the host city after the tsunami create the setting as a backdrop to the environment. see our preview article with exhibition design plans and background info here.

 

commisioner toyo ito explains the concept behind the pavilion: ‘one characteristic of ‘home-for-all’ is the way in which those ‘making’ the facilities and those ‘living’ in the join together to discuss the project during the design and building processes… why a building is made, and for whom – have been forgotten. a disaster zone where everything is lost offers the perfect opportunity for us to take a fresh look, from the ground up, at what architecture really is.’

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale

see designboom’s interview with sou fujimoto who discusses the themes of the japan pavilion

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
‘architecture. possible here? home-for-all’ commissioned by toyo ito for the 2012 architecture biennale in venice
(main image) left to right: architects kumiko inui, akihisa hirata, commissioner toyo ito, architect sou fujimoto
images © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
models and digital media are placed upon solid wooden planks
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
housing proposal
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
housing proposal based on a 3D grid of columns and beams
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
housing proposal
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
proposal
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
tipi-like structure with thatch roof proposal
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
housing proposal
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
central column passes through the floor plans
image © designboom

japanese pavilion at the 2012 venice architecture biennale
image © designboom

 

 


interview with toyo ito, golden lion award – venice architecture biennale 2012
video courtesy of la biennale channel

 

 

project info:

 

organizer: the japan foundation
venue: the japan pavilion at the giardini (designed by takamasa yoshizaka, completed in 1956)
special support: ishibashi foundation
cooperation: jun sato structural engineers co., ltd., daiko electric co., ltd., eastwest inc., DNP fotolusio co., ltd.
commissioner: toyo ito
exhibitors: kumiko inui, sou fujimoto, akihisa hirata (architects), naoya hatakeyama (photographer)