1971-2001

by Toyo Ito

For Toyo Ito, architecture is not so much a work of art but a mirror reflecting the times. From modest beginnings with a small atelier in 1971, he has grown to become one of the foremost practitioners of conceptual architecture, and was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2013. Covering topics like architecture for a consumption-oriented society, the pursuit of abstract beauty, public buildings and Itos white period, this monograph of collected works allows an unparalleled view into his development and work through the years. Besides an extensive and insightful conversation with Terunobu Fujimori, the book contains five interviews with Ito focusing on specific projects and periods.

312 pages, Paperback

Published June 25, 2014

About the author

Ito was born in Seoul, Korea under Japanese rule to Japanese parents on 1 June 1941. In 1943, he moved to Japan with his mother and two sisters, and graduated from the University of Tokyo's department of architecture in 1965.

Toyo Ito is a Japanese architect known for creating conceptual architecture, in which he seeks to simultaneously express the physical and virtual worlds. He is a leading exponent of architecture that addresses the contemporary notion of a "simulated" city, and has been called "one of the world's most innovative and influential architects."
In 2013, Ito was awarded the Pritzker Prize, one of architecture's most prestigious prizes