Recorded: November 3, 2010
In this excerpt from his lecture, co-founder of Tokyo-based Atelier Bow-Wow, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, discusses White Limousine Yatai, House & Atelier Bow-Wow, and Pony Garden. Tsukamoto explores the concept of “architectural behaviorology” in the firm’s recent and current work. “Behavior,” as defined by Tsukamoto, can include human behavior inside and outside of buildings; physical phenomena produced by different environmental elements such as light, air, heat, wind, and water; and a building’s behavior in its surroundings. “Architectural behaviorology” aims to understand the behaviors of those different elements in order to synthesize them, optimizing their performance in their specific contexts and suggesting a new idea of the “organic” in architecture.
Yoshiharu Tsukamoto co-founded Atelier Bow-Wow in 1992 with his partner Momoyo Kaijima. The pair’s interest lies in diverse fields ranging from architectural design to urban research and the creation of public artworks. The practice has designed and built over 20 houses, public museums, and commercial buildings mainly in Tokyo. In recent years it has expanded its works internationally including France, Denmark, and the United States. Pet Architecture Guidebook and Made In Tokyo published in 2001 were amongst many urban research studies that lead to the experimental project “micro-public-space,” a new concept of public space, which has been exhibited across the world at events such as Biennales in Sao Paolo, Venice, Istanbul, and Liverpool.
The Architectural League’s Current Work series presents the work of significant international figures, who powerfully influence contemporary architectural practice and shape the future of the built environment.
