Ryue Nishizawa, a young Japanese architect was born in 1966 in Tokyo, Japan. After completing his undergraduate degree, Ryue Nishizawa pursued his Master?s in architecture from the renowned University of Yokohama National University in 1990. As a student, he joined Kazuyo Sejima and Associates for an internship. In the early days of his career, Ryue Nishizawa, in partnership with Kazuyo Sejima founded the firm SANAA in 1995. However, two years later, he established his separate practice in 1997. Though they have established their practices, their designs in collaboration are impressive and cerebral and they raise the bar with each project. After working on some great projects, Nishizawa opted to teach at Yokohama National University in 2001, maintaining his practice. Ryue Nishizawa?s biography has also been published in numerous magazines and publications that highlight his journey and success story.

Design Philosophy of Ryue Nishizawa

Ryue Nishizawa believes that architecture exhibits how people live. They believe in the potential adaptation of a space and its social use. ?Working with detailed models extends our imagination where no scale is involved and the complexity of factors is unclear?, says Nishizawa. He believes that precise models allow us to explore our imagination and help us look at unexpected creative outcomes. Nishizawa abides by his philosophy that ?Everything belongs to nature?. Therefore, his architecture never fails to connect humans with nature. 

Notable Projects of Ryue Nishizawa

He presents elegant and discerning designs with impressive concepts and thought processes. In addition to the prestigious Pritzker award, Ryue Nishizawa’s projects have been honoured with numerous accolades for his contributions. Serpentine Pavilion in London, The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, and the Rolex Learning Center are some of his notable projects. So let us explore more about Ryue Nishizawa’s Architecture.

Serpentine Pavilion, London (2009)

Designed by the renowned architects, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, the Serpentine Pavilion is a stunning structure standing on the lawn of the Serpentine Gallery since 2009. The Pavillion is utilized to host an array of events and public talks. This transient pavilion structure has an organically shaped thin aluminium roof supported by a series of slender columns that fit perfectly into the cover of trees. The undulated surface of the aluminium roof reflects the sky, and the greens, creating a seamless blend with the natural setting. The thin roof and slender columns give it an elegant and delicate look. The remarkable use of elements and careful placement of columns curates a picturesque view of the surroundings. 

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa (2004)

Situated on the northern coast of Japan, in the city of Kanazawa, is a striking 21st-century Contemporary Art Museum built in 2004. It is positioned at the center of a public park encompassing a lecture hall, library, and a children?s workshop area. The museum is a five-foot-tall circular structure with a diameter of about 112.5 meters. This non-linear structure is covered with a glass facade, that allows a panoramic view of the city. One of the unique elements of its design is the roofing. The museum roof is made of a thin sheet that rests on the top of the structure giving it a delicate and minimalist look. The central orientation of the museum fosters social interaction between people. The architects have played in volumes and used geometric forms that extrude from the flat roof. Each form encompasses an individual exhibition space having different volumes giving each a character.?

The Remarkable Win of the Pritzker Prize 2010

The partnership of Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa was awarded the most prestigious awards in the industry of architecture, namely the Pritzker Prize 2010, becoming the second partnership to be honoured with this award. Ryue Nishizawa became the youngest Pritzker winner at the age of 44. Sejima and Nishizawa were acknowledged with this award for their delicate and ingenious creations of architecture. Their designs have been praised and appreciated by the jury as inspirational creations of design that hold a rich experiential value that contains the thought and interacts with the context.

Impact of Ryue Nishizawa?s Architecture on Contemporary Architecture

Ryue Nishizawa has a remarkable influence on contemporary architecture. His designs are inspirational, unique, and impressive in its way. His method of carefully working with models allows him to observe and consider the plethora of design aspects that help him create a design that fits well into the real world. One thing that his designs have inspired the community is the influence of nature. Ryue Nishizawa carefully accentuates the natural setting in his designs, rather he attempts to accommodate the structure within the voids of nature.?

To sum up, Ryue Nishizawa has one of the greatest contributions to the community of architecture. His designs are simple yet profound, and aesthetic yet functional. He explores architecture as a purpose and not as a mere structure. He designs by merging aesthetics, and functionality with nature as the canvas.

Sources

• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kazuyo-Sejima-and-Ryue-Nishizawa
• https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/museo-de-arte-contemporaneo-de-kanazawa-ishikawa-2
• https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/serpentine-gallery-pavilion-2009-kazuyo-sejima-ryue-nishizawa-sanaa-0/
• https://assemblepapers.com.au/2019/02/28/ryue-nishizawa-sanaa-the-artificial-belongs-to-nature/
• https://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/2010#laureate-page-341