Travelling with an architect : discovering Tokyo

TRAVELLING_ This week we take a contemporary architecture tour of Tokyo 東京, the most populous metropolitan area in the world. Tokyo is often referred to and thought of as a city, but is officially known as a "metropolitan prefecture", which differs from a city. The Tokyo metropolitan government administers the 23 Special Wards of Tokyo (each governed as an individual city), which cover the area that was formerly the City of Tokyo before it merged and became the subsequent metropolitan prefecture in 1943. The total population of the prefecture exceeding 13 million.

The prefecture is part of the world's most populous metropolitan area with upwards of 35 million people and the world's largest urban agglomeration economy. In 2013, Tokyo was named the world's most expensive city, according to the cost-of-living survey and in 2009 it was named the third Most Liveable City and the World’s Most Livable Megalopolis.

Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku Harajuku by NAP Architects (2012)

Tama Art University Library by TOYO ITO & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS (2007)

Tokyo Apartment by Sou Fujimoto Architects (2010)

Sugamo Shinkin Bank / Shimura Branch by emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design (2011)

Tokyo Baby Cafe by Nendo (2012) 

Musashino Art University Museum and Library by Sou Fujimoto Architects (2010)

Sunwell Muse by Takato Tamagami Architectural Design + Be-Fun Design (2008)

TOD’S Omotesando Building by TOYO ITO & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS (2004)

Armani Ginza Tower by Studio Fuksas (2009)

Za-Koenji Public Theatre by TOYO ITO & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS (2008)

The National Art Center by Kisho Kurokawa (2005)

Airspace Tokyo by Thom Faulders Architecture – Proces2 - Studio M  (2007)

Ring Around a Tree by Tezuka Architects and OHNO JAPAN (2011)

Google Japan HQ by Klein Dytham architecture (2013)

MASTERPIECE - Fuji TV Headquarters by Kenzo Tange (1997)

MASTERPIECE - Nakagin Capsule Tower by Kisho Kurokawa (1970)