21st Century Tokyo: A Guide to Contemporary Architecture

Tokyo has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking cities in the world, and nowhere is this more evident than in its modern architecture. Authors and architects Julian Worrall and Erez Golani Solomon, long-time residents of the city, have selected eighty-three outstanding examples of contemporary architecture, built from the 1990s onwards, and introduce them not just from an architectural perspective, but as part of the social, cultural, and political tapestry of the city. In addition to the monumental masterpieces of famous architects, generic buildings, from office blocks, to convenience stores, to high-rise apartment towers, are also sprinkled throughout the book, to create a full and fascinating overview of the architectural landscape of the city. The book is divided into seven chapters, each covering a different geographical district of Tokyo, and each building is accompanied by a selection of stunning black-and-white photographs. There is a four-page introduction to the book, placing Tokyo's contemporary architecture in its historical and social context, and each district chapter is prefaced by a two-page introduction outlining the architectural characteristics of the area. Written in an accessible, conversational style, and including maps and access information for each building, this book is as appealing to the layman as the professional architect, to the visitor to Tokyo as to the armchair traveller.