Pritzker Architecture Prize for Toyo Ito – More space for art

The library building
Photo by Tama Art University

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is renowned throughout the world and is the top accolade that architects can win for their work. This year it will go to the Japanese architect Toyo Ito. One of his most important buildings is the library at Tama Art University on the outskirts of Tokyo which was completed in 2007. When furnishing the open-plan gallery, the architect was impressed by our Stitz leaning aid and its high level of flexibility.

The library building extends over two storeys on the Hachioji campus at Tama Art University and is a work of art in itself. Especially for the project, the planners developed a stylish design made of curved exposed concrete arches which also form the large windows in the façade. As a result, generously sized areas, flooded with light are formed in the structure that looks as if it’s been created by chance. All in all, the building reflects the surrounding landscape and allows a free flow of movement. The gallery on the ground floor, with its public-access areas like the café and area for reading magazines, also mirrors the slope of the hill which has been built on. The vast freedom of movement and sense of dynamism on all sides is what connects Stitz with this architecture.

In “Wilkhahn 100 years+” (2007), published to commemorate the company’s anniversary, Toyo Ito explained why he had chosen Stitz: “Most of the first floor of this university library is designed with a constant slope of 1/20. For the café, the magazine reading space, and the so-called AV-bar for Video documents, I could only think of the Stitz. The height is freely adjustable and it allows tilting in any direction desired. Once all Stitz were installed, this free adaptability of the chairs brought forth an atmosphere of relaxation for the students, therefore allowing a good posture for contemplation. For me the Stitz is the first chair to beautifully realize this ‘in-between’ position of a person standing and someone sitting.” This is fantastic praise for Stitz – and from a Pritzker prize-winner to boot.

For more information, please visit: http://www.wilkhahn.com

• CID: 6730