AD Classics: Sendai Mediatheque / Toyo Ito

Mar 2011

By Megan Sveiven — Filed under: AD Architecture Classics ,Featured ,Museums and Libraries , Japan, Sendai Mediatheque, Sendai-shi, Toyo Ito

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With the intentions of designing a transparent cultural media center that is supported by a unique system to allow complete visibility and transparency to the surrounding community, the Sendai Mediatheque by Toyo Ito is revolutionary in it’s engineering and aesthetic.

Six steel-ribbed slabs slabs, each 15-3/4″ thick, appear to float from the street, supported by only thirteen vertical steel lattice columns that stretch from ground plane to the roof. This striking visual quality that is one of the most identifiable characteristics of the project is comprable to large trees in a forest, and function as light shafts as well as storage for all of the utilities, networks and systems.

More on the Sendai Mediatheque by Toyo Ito after the break.

Each plan is free form, as the structural column lattices are independent of the facade and fluctuate in diameter as they stretch from floor to floor. The simplest intentions of focusing on plates (floors), tubes (columns), and skin (facade/exterior walls) allows for a poetic and visually intriguing design, as well as a complex system of activities and informational systems.

The four largest tubes are situated at the corners of the plates, which serve as the principle means of support and bracing. Five of the nine smaller tubes are straight and contain elevators, while the other four are more crooked and carry the ducts and wires.

Upon approaching the Sendai Mediatheque, the public is led into a continuation of the surrounding city into the double height hall of the main entrance through large panes of glass. This open square includes a cafe, retail shop, and community space that is capable of supporting film screenings and other events.

Another aspect unique to this building is the involvement of many designers, as the interior of each level incorporated another person. Kazuyo Sejima designed the ground floor, placing the administrative offices behind a translucent screen. The Shimin Library found on the second and third levels include a browsing lounge complete with internet access and specially designed furniture by K.T. Architecture.

The gallery space of the fourth and fifth levels contain a flexible exhibition space with moveable walls, and also a more static space with fixed walls and a rest area with seating designed by Karim Rashid. Ross Lovegrove took charge of the sixth level, adding a 180 seat cinema and green and white furniture fitting to the audio-visual multimedia library.

The tree-like nature of the metal columns of the Mediatheque are continuous with the natural surroundings of the area, as the design is found on a street lined with trees. The building changes along with the seasons, it’s openness reflective of the summer green and also the streets during winter.

Architect: Toyo Ito
Location: Sendai-shi, Japan
Project Year: 2001
References: Toyo Ito, Ron Witte, Rob Gregory
Photographs: RIBA, Archienvironment, Toyo Ito, Flickr- username: Yisris

: © RIBA

: © Toyo Ito

: © Flickr- username: yisris

: © Flickr- username: yisris

: © Archienvironment

: © Flickr- username: yisris

: © Flickr- username: yisris

: © Toyo Ito

: © Toyo Ito

: © Toyo Ito

: © Toyo Ito

: © Toyo Ito

: © Toyo Ito

Cite:
Sveiven , Megan . "AD Classics: Sendai Mediatheque / Toyo Ito" 09 Mar 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed 23 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/118627>

Comments (15)
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æon says:

I didn’t know this building at all. The irregular tubes are a great attraction and even more when you realize they are the support and brace of the building.

# March 9, 2011 at 23:26

up_today_arch says:

This building is famouse enough, but I never seen before 3d model, thanks!

# March 10, 2011 at 01:40

orlando says:

This is where the modern manifesto meets the organic thinking. You can see all of the 5 point to a new architecture according to the modern movement, just with a twist of organic shaping.

# March 10, 2011 at 01:45

james says:

Does anyone know how well it stood up to the earthquake?

From some of the videos I have seen of Japan most buildings seem to have resisted the quake pretty well and so is a testament to all those who work in the Japanese construction industry. They have save many lives today.

I can only offer my deepest sympathy’s to any one who is in or knows someone in japan.

# March 11, 2011 at 17:50

Jake says:

Was this article written by a freshmen architecture student?

How is the space visually poetic? What does that even mean? What about the plans? Of course the sections are great, but the plans show the field conditions inherent in the project.

Learn to research, then write

# March 12, 2011 at 05:07

-1

suzique says:

Maybe someone need to return to freshman English to learn what “visually poetic” means.

# March 12, 2011 at 14:56

Only freshman architecture students would describe a space as being visually poetic? Im confused.

# March 12, 2011 at 15:08

clem says:

Any news of the building condition after the last events ?

# March 13, 2011 at 12:11

dburdeny says:

if anyone knows of its condition after the earthquake and tsunami please post.

# March 13, 2011 at 14:29

clem altnacht says:

Found via Twitter, just a picture :

http://bit.ly/gtg6qP

# March 13, 2011 at 19:47

dan says:

so it’s still standing… i was kinda expecting the columns to act like springs.

# March 14, 2011 at 06:03

Mario says:

My foot is visually poetic too

# March 15, 2011 at 07:28

My foot is visually poetic too, no sendai mediatheque though

# March 15, 2011 at 07:29

dimitri says:

here’s some footage taken from youtube during the earthquake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heh5ITmYbRs

# March 15, 2011 at 13:10

C.E. Oscar says:

I am despirately trying to get a hold of these structural plans. Does anyone know how I may contact the Structural Engineers who collaborated with Toyo Ito on this project?

# April 5, 2011 at 03:53

3:25 AM Mar 10th

Bocetos Digitales

AD Classics: Sendai Mediatheque / Toyo Ito: © RIBAWith the intentions of designing a transparent cultural media … http://bit.ly/ekpN37

3:32 AM Mar 10th

中原健太郎

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Glenn Hajadi

My very first assignment at school. Groundbreaking. RT @ArchDaily: Classics: Sendai Mediatheque / Toyo Ito http://archdai.ly/glY1Rh

3:35 AM Mar 10th

Rajan Reddy

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