Architecture in Tokyo

I like buildings. I like interesting modern buildings. Most modern buildings are boring. They look like bricks with windows. But some architects think differently. They go to a lot of work to design a building with something extra. And it's that "extra" that I appreciate.

Tokyo is a modern city, and it has more than its share of interesting buildings. I went in search of those buildings.

Nakagin Capsule Tower, 1972, by Kisho Kurokawa.

Kurakawa designed an apartment building that would be entirely modular. Each capsule (or room) is 7.5 x 12 x 7 feet and it is attached to a steel framework by exactly four bolts. The capsules could be easily replaced. If you wanted a new capsule, it would be manufactured off-site and then installed in the tower. For what it's worth, this never happened, and all of the original capsules are still in place.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, 1991, Kenzo Tange

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

According to Wikipedia, this 48-story building was designed to look like a computer chip but also to be reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral. For what it's worth, I think it looks more like a cathedral than a computer chip because of the twin spires. The best part of this building, though is the free observation deck on the 45th floor. It has great views of the city, especially at night.
And, it's the subject of my favorite photo of Tokyo.

Tokyo International Forum, 1996, Rafael Vinoly

The Glass Hall of the Tokyo International Forum is exactly that: all Glass. It's 190 feet high and 738 feet long and has glass walkways crossing the interior. It's really cool to walk through the center of this huge space.

The building is supported by two concrete pillars and held together by a steel lattice. 

Fuji Building, 1996, Kenzo Tange

This is one of the most recognized buildings in Tokyo, with the 100-foot diameter sphere inside the building. It contains a restaurant(!) and an observation deck. I was only able to see this from the train, but it looked interesting.

Maison Hermes, 2001, Renzo Piano

Piano was inspired by Japanese lanterns when he designed the Japanese headquarters of Hermès, a French luxury goods company. Doesn't look like much during the day, especially from the front. But it's encased in glass block, and at night (I understand that) it glows like a lantern.

The building is split into two halves and in the small plaza between is some Art. I think it's pretty cool, though I'm not sure what it is that's climbing the building.

For more pictures of this building see the photo gallery.

 Tokyo Tower, 1958, Tachu Naito

The Tokyo Tower was an important symbol of Tokyo's recovery after World War II. It was built in 1958 as a support structure for television antennae and it includes an observation deck. Unfortunately, to Western eyes, it looks like a rip-off of the Eiffel Tower. The orange-and-white color scheme is, well, distinctive. But there's a reason. The color is "international orange" used for air safety purposes. It's the same color as another famous structure, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Tokyo Tower and Zojo-ji Temple

Kyoto Tower, 1964, Makoto Tanahashi

I think the Kyoto Tower is a more pleasing structure than the Tokyo Tower, though I may be biased because I only saw it at night, when it presents a striking image. It was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and its modern steel construction contrasts sharply with the old, mostly wooden structures of Kyoto. If nothing else, it's well-lit at night.

Observation deck, Kyoto Tower

For more interesting architecture see the Architecture Photo Gallery. Also, the Tokyo at Night gallery includes buildings lit at night.