Abstract
Recent projects of Japanese architect, Ito Toyo have been evolved into innovative and experimental stages that are unique and different from other contemporary architects. Since Ito established his own office in 1971, there were several critical changes and developments in terms of architectural philosophy as well as design methods. Particularly, after Sendai Mediatheque, Ito has tended to focus on creating three-dimensional organic body in which architectural form, space, structure, facilities, images are merged all together. With this new type of three-dimensional structure, Ito aims to generate a new notion of architecture as 'living organism'. This paper tried to analyze Ito's new concept of architecture, design process of three-dimensional organic body and its ultimate characteristics and meanings. For the analysis, three projects were selected: Taichung Metropolitan Opera House(2005), Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive(2007), The New Deichman Library in Oslo(2008). These projects clearly represent several types of three-dimensional organic body. After the comparative studies, it is found that, in Ito's design process and method, there are unique characters: ambivalent relationship between plan and three-dimensional form, aiming new/hyper reality through complicated collaboration of analogue and digital design tools, and contradictory relationship with surrounding urban context. Although there are some limitations and restrictions, ever-evolving Ito's design concept and methods are very much valid and meaningful in contemporary spatial design in various perspectives.