Time Lines - Kenzo Tange

A new series on One Minute Architecture: Time Lines in which we look at the career of mainly Japanese architects. First up is Kenzo Tange (1913~2005)
During what I called Tange's Jomon period, he designed buildings in which the column and beam structure suggests a traditional Japanese wood construction although as can be seen in his Takamatsu City Hall building, it is unquestionably executed out of reinforced concrete. Tange wanted to build a building that looked like a traditional Japanese edifice with modern building techniques, as this allowed for structures that with traditional building technology, giving earthquake and fire restrictions, would not be possible in wood. The synthesis that Tange searched for was the use of a Japanese design approach but constructed with Western materials. Tange aimed to create a space using the functional and economical reinforced concrete methodologies of the West while aiming for a space that has the appearance of traditional Japanese wooden carpentry. In my opinion, in the end, it fails to transcend spatially into anything but a space dictated by a rationalist programme. For the design of the Metropolitan Governmental Offices completed in 1990 Tange completely gives up the idea of bringing anything remotely suggesting a traditional Japanese architectural language reference. Instead, he veers off following the global postmodern craze and suggests with his two towers a reference to the Notre Dame of Paris.
Other One Minute Architecture videos on Tange's work here:
St Marys Cathedral: • Kenzo Tange: St Mary's...
and my personal favourite:
Kuwait Embassy in Tokyo: • One Minute Architectur...
The Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Centre in Ginza is featured here: • WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE?
Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe.
Follow me in Twitter @martintokyo
my company: www.vanderarchitects.com
Thanks for watching, please like and subscribe.
Follow me in Twitter @martintokyo
my company: www.vanderarchitects.com

[@albertchan5726]

he is definitely one of the most influential japanese architects after 2nd world war in Japan. Thanks for your video.

[@kazukinishimoto1357]

I really like how you don't mince your words!! looking forward to the next video :)

[@robc4727]

This series should actually be given a new name. Instead of One Minute make it Five minutes. The images and shots are too short and deserve more exposure. Thank you for this new series.

[@OneMinuteArchitecture]

Thanks for pointing this out. The idea is that this series will be a basic introduction to these architects. For Tange I have made more detailed videos of Tange' St Mary's Cathedral and his Kuwait Embassy. I've added links in the description.

[@seeksustainablejapan]

thanks for this summary- I think about Kenzo Tange everytime I go into the city center and see his iconic buildings in the peace memorial park- many people complained at the time about the too ordinariness of the design, but I think the minimalist design works really well with the (now) green lushness and open spaces of the park. I would love to see more of his organic phase curvy buildings, that is so interesting

[@b43_pranjalvyas76]

Superb presentation

[@BorisCheshlarov]

Don't forget project of Tange „CIty Wall“ from 1963 who rebuilded Skopje from the earthquake

[@seanbrecht4030]

Hi Martin, Love the series! One small correction, the referenced Takamatsu City Hall is in fact not the city hall but the Kagawa Prefectural Government Office Bldg. Keep up the great work.

[@OneMinuteArchitecture]

Hi Sean, yes, you're right it is the Kagawa Prefectural Government Offices not the Takamatsu City Hall. Thanks for pointing that out

[@kn0wn771]

Interesting video. I was wondering what the name is of the music you used in the background?

[@ihsanbajwa3974]

سپریم کورٹ آف پاکستان کا ڈیزائن جاپانی ماہر تعمیرات کنزو ٹینگے نے بنایا۔۔۔۔کیا یہ معلومات درست ہیں؟؟؟

[@bhargavam8592]

Nimmappa

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

You didn't explain how his later works are bad though... not very convincing...

[@Rjfox89]

Yes I totally agree. I think I would have preferred a 5 min video instead that goes into more detail as you already got my attention in the first 2 minutes but I was left wanting a little more in the end.

[@OneMinuteArchitecture]

Thanks for the comment. I've been thinking if I should cover work that I don't like. In my video of SANAA's Hokusai Museum, I personally like the design of the building, but as I try to show the programme is questionable. For Tange, to me, I feel that his work dropped off in his later period into a mediocracy that baffles me. So far I have covered in more detail the work that I do like. I added links in the description above.
SANAA's video here: ruclips.net/video/xg_eH9vML1U/видео.html

[@guidetour3328]

you should speak from a fair standpoint if your channels name is ``one minute architecture'' . How can you call his later works rubbish. They are symbol of Tokyo skyline today.