• Life of Riken Yamamoto
• Famous Works
• The Pritzker Prize

Riken Yamamoto is a legend whose innovative designs have made a lasting impact on architecture. In 2024, he was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize for his remarkable contributions to the built environment. Yamamoto sees architecture not simply as a building, but as a connecting public and private realm, promoting harmony in a society with various identities and cultures. His conviction that community is about “sharing a common space” challenges conventional ideas of freedom and privacy, promoting communal support over solitude. Yamamoto stresses the significance of societal relationships in architectural design by stating that recognising space means recognising a whole community.

Life of Riken Yamamoto

Riken Yamamoto, a Japanese architect was born in Beijing, China in 1945 and moved to Yokohama, Japan after World War II ended. In childhood, he learned to navigate a mix of public and private aspects in his household, which was built like a classic Japanese machiya, featuring his mother’s pharmacy at the front and their living space at the back. He completed his studies at Nihon University, a Bachelor in Architecture in 1968, and later obtained a Master of Arts in Architecture from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1971. He established his firm, Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop in 1973.

Transparency was a key element in his works, and he established an urban planning approach that emphasised evolution in Ryokuen-toshi, Inter-Junction City. He adapts his architectural language to projects like Saitama Prefectural University and Tianjin Library, demonstrating his mastery of scale. Yamamoto’s work expanded after natural disasters in Japan, leading to the establishment of Local Area Republic Labo and the Local Republic Award in 2018. He reconsidered boundaries between public and private realms as societal opportunities, designing single-family residences that united natural and built environments. His first project, Yamakawa Villa, was exposed and designed to feel like an open-air terrace. This experience influenced his future works, including social housing projects like Hotakubo Housing, which bridged cultures and generations through relational living.

Famous Works

Architect Riken Yamamoto is famous for his creative designs and has made a lasting impact on the architectural world through his well-known projects. These projects highlight Riken Yamamoto’s cleverness, imagination, and commitment to expanding architectural boundaries. His designs, from educational institutions to cultural landmarks, continue to mesmerise and excite audiences globally. Here are in-depth descriptions of some of his well-known projects:

1. Gazebo, Yokohama, Japan

The design story of GAZEBO, the personal residence of Riken Yamamoto, is quite interesting. In 1954, the location of the current house began to see an increase in tall buildings used for various purposes. This resulted in diminished chances for small homeowners to interact with each other. Therefore, Yamamoto created a layout with no walls for his home. The outcome is a reinforced concrete building measuring 664 square meters, featuring numerous terraces and rooftops. The traditional cluster of small houses supporting the neighbourhood has been replaced by taller mixed-use buildings, accommodating the modern lifestyle with commercial spaces on the first floor and rental units on higher levels.

2. Jian Wai Soho, China, Beijing

This large-scale development, situated east of Tiananmen Square, which includes nine residential towers and four SOHO (small office home office) buildings, introduced a new idea in Beijing by combining workspaces and living spaces. The lower three levels of the building house 177 commercial spaces, while the upper levels are where the residences are located. The lively plaza is surrounded by stores, eateries, amenities, and a garden, welcoming everyone to partake in this city atmosphere. Traffic flows underground, creating more space for pedestrians without interruption.

3. Ecoms House, Tosu, Japan

This prototype displays how efficient aluminium is as a building material in a 115-square-metre SOHO. Aluminium lattice panels are lightweight, strong, and can be recycled. They are combined with aluminium sheets and glass to form a checkerboard-like exterior surface. This surface can be easily swapped out and upgraded using features such as Louvred or projecting windows, made of either glass or aluminium, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness. The design includes a generous 3.4-meter second-level ceiling and the potential for a third level in upcoming versions of the versatile space.

4. Hotakubo Housing, Kumamoto, Japan

His first social housing development included 16 housing groups of 110 units, arranged around a central square with trees that can only be entered through a building. Taking inspiration from Japanese machiya and Greek oikos housing, Yamamoto’s design encourages a shift from private to semi-public spaces, forming a transitional area that promotes a sense of community, establishing a “Local Community Area” while still honouring the privacy of individual households. The regulations of the Public Housing Act lead to restrictions on the size of units, resulting in each unit having a terrace that looks out onto the square. This helps to increase living space and bring residents closer to nature.

5. Fussa City Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Fussa City Hall is designed with two mid-rise towers instead of one high-rise tower to blend in with the neighbouring low-rise buildings. The building’s sloped curved edges mirror the low hills on the site. The seamless material creates a connection to nature with its natural terrain-like appearance, encouraging visitors to relax on the concave base. the green rooftop and lower levels are designed for various public events.

6. Saitama Prefectural University, Koshigaya, Japan

The Saitama Prefectural University consists of nine buildings linked by terraces that transform into pathways across sloping green areas and inner courtyards. Every clear book enables observations from one room to another, and from one structure to another promoting cross-disciplinary education and engagement. All labs are situated on the first level, enhancing the connections between different areas of expertise. The campus contains classrooms, an auditorium, a library, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and faculty rooms, but the boundaries between buildings are intentionally blurred, creating a unique architectural style.

7. Yokosuka Museum of Art, Yokosuka, Japan

Yokosuka Museum of Art is designed to serve as a place where visitors can go and escape regularly. The meandering entrance of the museum is reminiscent of Tokyo Bay and the mountains nearby, with most galleries located underground, allowing visitors a tranquil and uninterrupted view of the natural landscape. Visitors can look out at the landscape and other galleries through circular cutouts in all shared areas, connecting these unique spaces and allowing those inside to be influenced not just by the artwork, but also by the surroundings and the presence of others nearby. The ground-floor restaurant, complete with full-length glass windows, has a resort-like ambience year-round.

8. Hiroshima Nishi Fire Station, Hiroshima, Japan

The building’s exterior, inner glass walls and flooring create the impression of a completely see-through structure. The central atrium of the building highlights firefighter training and activities, inviting passersby to observe and interact with those dedicated to protecting the community, and fostering a mutual commitment between civil servants and the citizens they protect. Fire prevention and educating the public of all ages are important components of the program, and the exhibition lobby and 4th-floor terrace areas are designated for public activities.

The Pritzker Prize

Riken Yamamoto has been awarded the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, causing excitement among architects. The jury’s choice of Yamamoto highlights his important and enduring impact on architecture. Yamamoto’s work has pushed the limits of architecture with his innovative design, understanding of surroundings, and dedication to improving the well-being of inhabitants, earning him a reputation for his forward-thinking vision.

The jury acknowledged Yamamoto’s capability to surpass cultural and geographical limits, highlighting the universal appeal of his work. When creating a museum in Japan or a university campus elsewhere, Yamamoto always shows a deep comprehension of human life and a steadfast reverence for the constructed surroundings. His creations highlight his sharp perception of the desires and dreams of different backgrounds and his skill in turning these understandings into innovative environments that motivate and elevate.

Sources

• https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2024/03/16/style-design/worrall-life-riken-yamamoto-pritzker-architect/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIn%20his%20long%2C%20coherent%2C,to%20meet%20spontaneously%2C%20through%20precise%2C
• https://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/riken-yamamoto#laureate-page-2596
• https://kanto.com.ph/spaces/architecture/five-essential-works-riken-yamamoto/
• https://www.archdaily.com/1014028/japanese-architect-riken-yamamoto-receives-the-2024-pritzker-architecture-prize