Biographies

Ito, Toyo

Toyo Ito was born in Seoul in Korea and he graduated in architecture from the University of Tokyo in 1965. Following a few years apprenticeship within the Kikutake architectural studio, he opened his own, which since 1979 has been called Toyo Ito&Associates, Architects. It is possible to notice his search for lightness, by means of which he blends a creative confrontation with technologies and contemporary materials, right from his first architectural projects. In the Sendai Mediatheque (2001) the reasons for this experimentation are fully expressed, by blending sophisticated forms of high-tech both as regards the truss work as well as in the outer shell design. He participates in great international competitions, including that for the MAXXI itself and he exhibits in the most important museums worldwide. In 2001 he personally set up his monographic exhibition “Toyo Ito architetto”, displayed in the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza. In 2005 the “Toyo Ito 1 to 200” exhibition was held at the MAXXI; at that time three projects were acquired for the MAXXI Architettura collection. The last decade has seen Toyo Ito very present in Europe with new buildings in Holland and in Barcelona, where he has opened an architectural office. Ito has been recipient of the Golden Lion Award for his career achievement on the occasion of the 8th Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition (2002); in 2005 he received the Gold Medal awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
In 2013 he won the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Toyo Ito, Parco per il relax a Torrevieja, Alicante 2005 (part.)