A major Japanese architect, whose heritage is priceless, has always been one of those people whose work is not limited to national culture. An outstanding practitioner who designed unique buildings combined the eastern color with the unbridled rhythm of modern Western life. Kenzo Tange is a successor and follower of the great Le Corbusier. He made a huge contribution to the development of modern architecture in Japan, and his masterpieces became a role model for Americans and Europeans.
Japanese traditions and European experience
Born in 1913, a talented Japanese receives a special education at the University of Tokyo. Later, he studies the basics of architecture in the studio of the famous architect K. Maekawa
. It is curious that born in the Japanese environment, throughout his life he retains a great interest in the culture of Europe. Despite Kenzo Tang's commitment to national traditions, his architectural works are distinguished by increased scale. And such dimensions required new materials and structures, which allowed buildings to survive on islands located in seismically hazardous areas. All skyscrapers created by the ingenious master meet the requirements of reliability and follow the canons of traditional Japanese housing construction.
International recognition
The formation of the architect took place during the period of the defeat of the statehood of Japan, and his activity began in very difficult times for the people to curtail peaceful construction. The architect receives international recognition as the author of the master plan for the restoration of the long-suffering Hiroshima after the atomic bombing by the American armed forces. During the revival of the city, wiped off the face of the earth, the idea of creating a memorial in the place where the small city suffered the most. Hiroshima is a corner in which a genius spent his youth, and a terrible catastrophe became his personal tragedy: he lost his parents.
Memorial to the victims of the bombing
The architect Kenzo Tange, who won the competition, offers a new interpretation of space. The appeared silver building is located on a gentle slope and rises above the ground, covering the courtyard with its "wings". And at the scene of the explosion remains empty. The work of Japanese modernism reminds descendants of the fragility of human life, and the sounds of the memorial bell breaking the silence appeal to our memory. Everything in the huge memorial with the ascetic premises of the museum, the body of which seems to soar in the air, is permeated with sorrow and respect for the innocent victims.
The architectural ensemble was the first masterpiece of the creator, who introduced something new in the development of architecture.
New ways of architecture development
The post-war restoration of the city brings Kenzo Tange world fame. He becomes the master of thoughts of creative youth who forgets other leaders of architecture. Soon, a young urban planner is invited to Congress in the UK. Despite the fact that he remains a supporter of the ideas of modern architecture, the Japanese always seeks new ways for its development and strives for simplicity and functionality, implementing organic works.
The basis of his work is to create a multifunctional urban environment that can transform and grow.
The complex of sports facilities
The middle of the 60s of the last century becomes a heyday for a genius. Japan hosts the Olympics, and sports arenas are being built according to the projects of the talented creator, in which the main structure is the cable-stayed (hanging). A curved, not having right angles, reinforced concrete roof causes associations with the ridges of fantastic fish or the bottoms of inverted ships. This is a synthesis of Japanese traditions and European experience. The futuristic ensemble, which has become an important element of nature, preserves the spirit of a typical country garden with stone compositions and a cult of trees.
All the buildings that appeared in the spacious picturesque park complement each other perfectly, and the Olympic complex, which has gained great fame, is called the pinnacle of the master’s career.
St. Mary's Cathedral (Tokyo)
In 1964, Kenzo Tange, whose projects are simple and complex at the same time, begins work on the cathedral. He designs a Catholic religious landmark in the shape of an elongated Latin cross. Penetrating sunlight fills the temple with the divine blessing that parishioners seek so much. The walls of the architectural monument are curved and resemble swelling sails, the edges of which are raised. It is curious that wherever the sun is, its rays always give the effect of a life-giving cross inside the building.
The cathedral, built more than 50 years ago, looks modern now. Mystically attractive, it looks like a spaceship soaring into the sky. The shiny stainless steel of the facade contrasts with the gray concrete used in the interior.
Rebirth from the Ruins
In 1965, the element dealt a crushing blow to cozy Skopje - the capital of Macedonia. A powerful earthquake destroys the administrative center, and the UN announces a competition to create a city plan, won by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. A few years later, powerful concrete structures were designed on the site of the ruins, designed by an outstanding architect who knew everything about building in a seismically dangerous area.
The mastermind of metabolism
Japanese architecture is becoming the world leader in creating innovative concepts. The architects who developed a new direction (metabolism) see in the future building a living organism. The country's traditional philosophy is combined with innovative ideas and the most modern materials. The main inspirer of metabolists is an influential master who himself does not belong to this current.
Bold experiment
Turned into the real patriarch of Japanese architecture, the classic designs the plan of the World Exhibition (EXPO-70). Kenzo Tange works in difficult conditions: he divides the territory with a very difficult hilly terrain and a strong slope into two parts by a giant pavilion, which he himself invented.
The main square of the event, which became the center of the composition, organized the rest of the space around itself, so it was no coincidence that it was covered with a thick roof. The multi-level territory was protected from the weather, and thus an impression of unity was created. An artificial lake was arranged in the center of the exhibition, around which pavilions grew, and Japanese gardens were set up in the north.
City of the future
Near the main entrance appeared the Sun Tower and the exhibition hall itself, and under the roof there were three levels - underground, ground and air, which symbolized the past, present and future. It turned out to be an ideal city with its own infrastructure. Kenzo Tange hoped that after the event the exhibition would become the basis for the emergence of a new settlement, but dreams did not come true.
However, the multi-level city of the future was a true achievement on a global scale and had a huge impact on European architecture. Japan was struck by the most daring experiments, which overshadowed everything that was created by other countries in terms of technical characteristics and special expressiveness. Since that time, the authority of Japanese architects has become unquestioned.
