Arata Isozaki, one of the most important architects of the second half of the 20th century, died on December 29. He was the recipient of the Pritzker Prize, one of the most important awards for architects.
Arata Isozaki was born in 1931 Ōita on the Japanese island of Kyushu. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree in architecture, during which time he took his first steps in architecture working with Kenzo Tange, among others. In 1963, he established his own studio.
Isozaki's early designs were influenced by the European experience, and his style blended with Brutalism and Metabolist architecture. His designs were described as a combination of Japanese and Western architectural influences. Isozaki was an active architect for more than six decades. He was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2019. In addition, the architect has taught at universities such as Yale and Harvard, among others. He also published books on Japanese architecture.
Museum of Japanese Art and Technology "Manggha" in Krakow
Photo: Nemuri | Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA
His most famous projects included medical buildings in his hometown of Ōita, part of the buildings of the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Francisco, the Kitakyushu Art Museum or the most famous project in Poland, the "Manggha" Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow. He was also a member of the design team of Japanese architects who, like urban planners from Poland, came to help rebuild earthquake-damaged Skopje.
Arata Isozaki (1931-2022)
photo by Manel Armengol | Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0
