Skip to main content

UTokyoX: Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Theory

Learn the history, ideas and concepts behind contemporary Japanese architecture through four architectural facets and five generations of architects.

8 weeks
1–2 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

17,737 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 19

About this course

Skip About this course

This series will explore four facets of contemporary Japanese architecture; theory, technology, city, and humans. It will also span five generations of architects since Kenzo Tange. Through lectures by instructors and discussions with the most influential Japanese architects, the course will trace the development of contemporary Japanese architecture and will consider its future direction.

In this first course, we will focus on one of the four facets of Japanese architecture: theory.

The theory portion will feature discussions with architects who played a significant role in influencing the development of theoretical frameworks that contributed to guiding contemporary Japanese architecture. Terunobu Fujimori, Arata Isozaki, Hisao Kohyama, Kengo Kuma, Hidetoshi Ohno, and Kazuyo Sejima will visit their buildings and discuss the ideas behind their respective works.

In the coming courses on technology, city, and humans, the following leading Japanese architects will discuss their work — Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban, Manabu Chiba, Sou Fujimoto, Hiroshi Hara, Itsuko Hasegawa, Toyo Ito, Kengo Kuma, Fumihiko Maki, Kazuhiko Namba, Yusuke Obuchi, Satoko Shinohara, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, and Riken Yamamoto. Don’t miss the rest of this great series!

Production Team

Music by Jun Miyake
Organized by (T_ADS) Kengo Kuma, Yusuke Obuchi, Toshihiko Kiuchi
Filmed by Hiromoto Oka

At a glance

  • Institution: UTokyoX
  • Subject: Architecture
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:

    Interest in the design and history of architecture, as well as urbanism.

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Development of contemporary Japanese architecture since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
  • Features of works of influential Japanese architects
  • Theories behind practices in contemporary Japanese architecture
  • Present concerns and potential future directions for contemporary Japanese architecture

This course is part of Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture XSeries Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
4 high-quality courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
7 months
1 - 2 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.