Interview with Architect Toyo Ito: The Future of Architecture, The Future of Our Times

"Behind the Scenes of 'Expressions That Resonate'" focuses on "successful promoters of expressive activities" across various fields. This time, we spoke with architect Toyo Ito about new lifestyles for people and the future of architecture.

　

What concerns me most about the future of cities is homogenization. While redevelopment and rebuilding are positive in themselves, I worry that buildings are becoming indistinguishable due to the pursuit of taller structures and economic efficiency. As a result, people's lives, workstyles, and even expressions risk becoming detached from nature and uniformly standardized. I am deeply concerned about how to restore the relationship between cities and nature. Cities are layered with their accumulated history, so perhaps we need to undertake work that unearths these layers. Doing so would naturally lead buildings to become "something unique to that place." I want architecture to blend with nature and the land, helping us recover ways of living that connect with nature there.

For example, Tokyo still has remnants of Edo everywhere—slopes, large trees, gardens. Osaka might hold even older treasures. Every regional city surely has its own accumulated history. I hope development will reveal these unique local characteristics. This isn't about building in a Japanese style. It's about the concept of unearthing the inherent power of the land. I believe this will ultimately enhance the value of each place, and by extension, the city as a whole.

People's lifestyles will surely change in the future. Under the previous, overly economic mindset, everything flowed one-way toward cities. The dichotomy of big city versus countryside was the accepted norm. I believe the ideal future for Japan is a society where people live both in cities and in the countryside, seamlessly connected without clear boundaries. No country has transportation infrastructure as developed as Japan's. Moreover, travel spaces will continue to evolve into increasingly comfortable environments, enhancing livability. The time spent traveling will feel more like being in a room or building. Railways are already moving significantly in this direction, and the advancement of autonomous vehicles will further drive this change.

I'm currently frequently visiting Ōmishima in the Seto Inland Sea to work on a project. My connection to the island began with a commission from someone else to design a museum. But the client started saying, "Why not make it my museum?" and Imabari City got involved too, so I became deeply involved. This coincided with when I started my private school, the "Ito Architecture School," in Ebisu, Tokyo. As I visited with the students, they all grew to love the place, and exchanges with the islanders began.

Set against the backdrop of this beautiful Ōshima Island, where traditional community values and ways of life persist, it's an endeavor to contemplate tomorrow's lifestyles. It's neither about turning it into a tourist destination nor fitting the phrase "island revitalization." I want to enable people to relocate from the city and still find work. That's why I aim to create a model for living that connects the island with urban centers like Tokyo and Osaka. It's still very much in its early stages, but it's gradually taking shape. Some say this goes beyond the scope of an architect's work, but I believe what architects need most right now is to immerse themselves more deeply within society.

I deeply resonate with the idea that Japan has reached the pinnacle of capitalism and now needs a paradigm shift in how we measure prosperity—moving away from the belief that economics is the ultimate solution. Young people's tendency to not cling to material possessions or their emphasis on sharing feels like an intuitive sense of the next era. The idea of Japan repeating its past economic growth feels like an outdated concept. I find it very interesting to contemplate what Japan might look like transformed by a new, different ideology.