Aoyama Technical College
Aoyama Technical College, located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, stands as a prominent example of postmodern architecture in Japan. Designed by Japanese architect Makoto Sei Watanabe in 1990, this building, used for professional training in engineering and technical design, has become an architectural icon in Tokyo due to its unusual and futuristic forms.
Architectural Design and Symbolism
Shape and Form:
- Organic and Industrial Forms: The design of the building is inspired by organic and industrial forms. Its overall shape resembles a robot or mechanical insect, with sharp lines and unexpected angles that convey a sense of movement and dynamism.
- Sci-Fi Elements: The exterior details, such as small turrets and antennas, evoke a sense of the sci-fi world.
Facade and Materials:
- Metal and Glass Facade: The building’s facade is constructed from metal and glass, combining to convey a sense of modernity and technological advancement.
- Reflective Materials: The use of reflective materials like glass allows the building to interact with light and the surrounding urban space, changing its appearance throughout the day.
Design Functionality:
- Educational Symbol: The building is designed not only as an educational center but also as a symbol to encourage creativity in students and teachers.
- Innovative Message: The unconventional exterior design conveys the message that learning and innovation can transcend traditional boundaries.
Technical and Engineering Features
Structure:
- Complex Steel Structure: The building uses a complex steel framework, allowing for the creation of unique and unconventional forms. This structure is designed to withstand dynamic and seismic loads, crucial in the earthquake-prone region of Tokyo.
- Asymmetric Forms: The presence of discontinuous and asymmetric forms in the structure posed significant challenges for the engineering team, which were overcome using advanced simulation software.
Space Functionality:
- Modular Design: The building includes classrooms, technical laboratories, and design workshops, all designed in a modular format to provide flexibility for future changes.
- Integrated Systems: The building’s HVAC and lighting systems are implemented integrally using modern technologies.
Design and Execution Challenges
Spatial Constraints:
- Narrow and Dense Location: The building’s location on a narrow and dense street in Shibuya made its design challenging. The architect utilized vertical and angular forms to exploit spatial limitations and create a distinctive structure.
Need for Sustainability:
- Recyclable Materials: Considering environmental issues, the building uses recyclable materials and systems to reduce energy consumption.
Seismic Activity:
- Earthquake Resistance: Tokyo is one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. Therefore, the building is designed to withstand severe earthquakes using advanced structural engineering systems and seismic force analysis.
Cultural and Urban Impact
- Urban Icon: This building is not only an educational center but has also become an urban symbol representing creativity and innovation in Japanese architecture.
- Inspiration: Its design has inspired young architects and students, demonstrating that architecture can transcend traditional limitations and pure functionalism.
Aoyama Technical College, with its pioneering design, complex engineering structure, and artistic approach to architecture, is an excellent example of the fusion of technology and aesthetics in the 20th century. This building stands not only as an educational center but also as a living piece of art in the bustling city of Tokyo.
Additional Information:
Aoyama Technical College is an otherwise innocuous building surmounted by a sinister form suggesting a cross between an insect and a motorcycle. The design is based on the winning entry in a competition that had among its jurors Yoshiro Ikehara and Riken Yamamoto. The facility, located on a narrow street, contains classrooms, faculty space, and a gallery. The ellipsoidal form on the top is a water tank, and the two feeler-like appendages behind it are lightning rods. The "body" of the machine/insect is clad in aluminum panels in four colors.
The architect himself describes his work as follows: “The Aoyama Technical College building is also intended to restore the fundamental strength that buildings ought to have. Ancient structures, from the Pyramids to the great cathedrals, possessed the awesome power of large spaces. Most of modern architecture, it seems to me, has lost this basic power. Architecture ought to be something capable of moving people’s hearts and giving them a physical thrill in a way possible in no other art. That power deserves to be restored. Another purpose of this building is to assure that anyone who might see it experiences, both mentally and physically, a definitive feeling of excitement.
The completion of this building proved a potent stimulus to the disorderly, chaotic area in which it stands. The effect of this structure proposing a new principle for creating architecture in the city will spread, helping people to stop and think about the way they want their cities to be. They can thus change their communities, as well as Tokyo as a whole, into better worlds.”
Further Reading:
1990 – AOYAMA TECHNICAL COLLEGE – MAKATO SEI WATANABE