Toyo Ito and Masato Araya's experiments in the structural use of aluminium

Abstract

Aluminium is a widely used material offering many advantages when employed in buildings. Supply has dramatically increased with better recycling practices. With this in mind during the 1990s, Japanese subsidies targeted exploratory development of new uses for aluminium in buildings. This paper reviews innovative aluminium developments by the Japanese architect Toyo Ito and the structural engineer Masato Araya. With strong industry support, the two professionals designed and built five free-standing aluminium structures: a house, a dormitory, a cottage, an exhibition kiosk and a pavilion. Teaming up with several different industry partners both at home and abroad, Ito and Araya explored a variety of formal approaches. Their work received numerous awards and accolades and was in some cases patented. However, in the final outcome the structures the two professionals built remain unique.