Robert Day Architects Blog

Recently Robert Day Architects hosted 20 Japanese Architects from the Saitama Architects Association.

Mr Tanaka & Mr Takeuchi in Sydney

The group was only here for several days however they managed to pack a lot into a very short time. My former boss, Mr Kondo, and the Saitama Architects Association always spend a day with with us when we travel to Japan for our Architecture Tours so we were very happy to reciprocate. Mr Kondo and I met up the tour party in Sydney where we visited the new Surry Hills Library, Cadman’s Cottage and the Museum of Sydney to name a few places. The highlight was certainly the harbour lunch cruise. The next day we were shown around by two Sydney Architects, Steve Anders and Barbara Tarnawski, both of whom had met the Saitama Architects on a previous Japan Architecture Tour. We visited and number of new multi-residential housing projects and ended our day at Watson’s Bay. The following day we visited the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Darling Harbour and the Sydney Opera House. Later that day we flew to Brisbane where we went the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and then had dinner at the famous Breakfast Creek Hotel. On the way we stopped to view Brisbane City from Kangaroo Pt. For the last day, we went to Lone Pine and then had lunch at a great riverside seafood restaurant. We then walked along the river and through the Botanic Gardens before we boarded the bus to take them to the airport to fly back to Japan. Even though it was a very busy tour all the members of the Saitama Architects group enjoyed themselves. We look forward to seeing them again on our next Japan Architecture Tour in April 2011. Here are a few photographic highlights.

Saitama Architects Group at Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Surry Hills Library

Mr Kondo outside the Surry Hills Library

Jorn Utzon display at Museum of Sydney

Mr Kondo & Mr Takaoka on Sydney Harbour cruise

The Sydney Opera House

Mr Tanaka & Mr Kondo on Sydney Harbour

Group Members at Cadman's Cottage

Mr Takeuchi at The Rocks

Mr Takeuchi & Mr Tanaka at Bondi Beach

Dinner at Sydney Tower

Having a Beer at an Aussie Pub

Community Housing in Redfern

Apartment Complex in Victoria Park

A Breezy Afternoon at The Gap near South Head

Mr Takeuchi, Mr Kondo, Mr Kigawa and Mr Kudo at Shipwreck Memorial at The Gap

Sydney Town Hall under Christmas Lighting

Hero of Waterloo Hotel, The Rocks

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre

ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre

Darling Harbour

The Sydney Opera House

Shell Detail, Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House Interior

Mr Morita, Mr Kudo, Mr Takaoka & Ms Sato outside the Opera House

GOMA Brisbane

GOMA Brisbane

Saitama Architects Group at GOMA

Saitama Architects Group at Kangaroo Pt

The Breakfast Creek Hotel

Koalas at Lone Pine

Saitama Architects Group with Kangaroos at Lone Pine

Saitama Architects Group President, Mr Kuwako and Ms Sato with Kangaroo

Saitama Architects Group on Brisbane River Walk

Mr Shimizu, Mr Morita, Mr Tanaka, Mr Kanda & Mr Kudo next to the Brisbane River

Saitama Architects Group in Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Robert Day & Mr Takeuchi at Brisbane Airport

Farewell Dinner for Mr Kondo

Check out http://japanarchitecturetours.wordpress.com/ for all of the latest news, past tour highlights and other useful information about:

• Japan Architecture Tours
• Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings in Japan
• Traditional Japanese Architecture
• Contemporary Japanese Architecture
• Architecture of Tokyo
• and Much More

At any one time, there are hundreds of art exhibitions on in Tokyo. Just check out the listings in Tokyo Art Beat.

We have been very lucky on previous Japan Architecture Tours and been able to see some very interesting art and architecture exhibitions. Most of them are exhibited in fantastic buildings designed by famous architects.

Once again, we are very fortunate with the timing of the October 2010 Japan Architecture Tour and on this trip we will see not only some very interesting architecture exhibitions, but also some top line art exhibitions featuring the works of some of the greats of the art world.

Art Exhibitions include:

Van Gogh: The Adventure of Becoming an Artist exhibition at the National Art Center Tokyo. NACT designed by Kisho Kurokawa

The exhibition gives an impression of the methods and techniques with which Van Gogh developed stylistically and technically, and of those who influenced him in the process.

Man Ray “Unconcerned But Not Indifferent” at the National Museum of Art Osaka. NMAO designed by Cesar Pelli

This exhibition presents more than 400 works from the collection of the Man Ray Trust much of which has never before been publicly presented.

Masahiko Sato “The Definition of Self” at 21-21 Design Sight. 21-21 Design Sight designed by Tadao Ando.

Through hands-on exhibits, a blend of scientific technologies and art works, the exhibition aims to create an opportunity for the visitors to identify their undeniable “self.”

Architecture Exhibitions include:

Sou Fujimoto “Forest, Cloud, Mountain” Exhibition at Watarium Gallery. Watarium designed by Mario Botta.

This exhibition focuses on the work of the noted architect Sou Fujimoto in an attempt to consider the future of Tokyo and architecture in general.

Terunobu Fujimori Exhibition at GA Gallery

This exhibition features work by Terunobu Fujimori, a prominent Japanese architect and architectural historian. On display are sketches, models and documentary videos that shed light on his design processes.

Best of Graduation Works 2010 in Nippon Exhibition at Gallery MA

This is a collection of the best works of Architecture students across Japan who graduated in 2010.

There are so many more art & architecture galleries to chose from, however there just isn’t the time available to visit them all.

The October 2010 Japan Architecture Tour will include a visit to historic Kawagoe as part of the tour itinerary. Once again, we will be escorted by Mr Kondo and the Saitama Architects Association. Kawagoe was a “post town” during the Edo Period and the town is famous for the preservation of it’s historic Kurazukuri storehouses.

We are able to confirm that as part of the October 2010 Japan Architecture Tour, we will be visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Jiyu Gakuen School and Tadao Ando’s Church of Light

Japan is a country of great contrast with architecture that is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern, east and west. Tokyo is a dynamic metropolis where you will find some of the world’s most unique and fascinating architecture. Kyoto is a city steeped in tradition with an abundance of ancient temples, shrines and gardens scattered throughout a bustling modern city. This tour will provide an excellent snapshot of the remarkable architecture of amazing Tokyo and historic Kyoto.

This is not just the typical sight seeing tour, but a definitive display of Japanese architectural expression that also affords the opportunity to meet with local Japanese architects and to visit some of the few remaining Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Japan such as The Imperial Hotel at Meiji-Mura and Yamamura House in Hyogo.

A truly unique architectural experience, the tour will visit some of Tokyo’s newest contemporary masterpieces, famous classic buildings, art and architecture exhibitions, famous temples and gardens of Kyoto and other interesting tourist spots.

Architectural highlights include buildings such as Prada Boutique (Herzog and de Meuron), National Art Center Tokyo (Kurokawa),  Mikimoto 2 (Toyo Ito), Omotesando Hills (Ando), 21-21 Design Site (Ando), Nezu Museum (Kengo Kuma), National Museum of Western Art (Le Corbusier), Olympic Gymnasium (Kenzo Tange) & Nakagin Capsule Building (Kurokawa)

This 10 day Japan Architecture Tour is conducted and guided by Architect, former Tokyo resident and Japan expert, Robert Day. For more information contact robert@rdayarch.com.au

Japan Architecture Tours Blog

Robert Day is organising another Japan Architecture Tour in October 2010. Visit www.rdayarch.com.au/blog for more information. Visit http://www.rdayarch.com.au/tours.html for diaries of previous Robert Day Architects Japan Architecture Tours.