Japanese Literary Awards

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Toru Murakami

むらかみ とおる

Murakami Toru

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1949-09-17 （Imabari, Ehime, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Architect, Educator
Active Years
1972-
Affiliations
Toru Murakami Architecture Office, Hiroshima Institute of Technology (Professor Emeritus), Kinki University (visiting lecturer)
Influenced By
Atsuzo Uchii

Education

Hiroshima Institute of Technology
Faculty of Engineering / Department of Architecture
Period: 〜1972
Year of Graduation: 1972
Country: Japan

Awards

JIA Newcomer Award
1990
Work: Sakamachi Atelier
Organization: Japan Institute of Architects (JIA)
Result: 受賞
Yoshioka Prize
1990
Work: Nakayama House
Organization: Shinkenchiku-sha (Yoshioka Prize)
Result: 受賞
Architectural Institute of Japan Award (Building)
1994
Work: A series of houses including Ajina House
Category: 作品賞
Organization: Architectural Institute of Japan
Result: 受賞
Agency for Cultural Affairs Newcomer Award
1997
Work: Design of Aji Town Hall
Category: 美術部門
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Public Architecture Award (Excellence)
2000
Work: Aji Town Hall
Organization: Public Architecture Organizations
Result: 受賞
Hiroshima Urban Design Award (Grand Prize)
2004
Work: Nagisa Park Elementary School
Organization: Hiroshima Urban Design Organizations
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nakayama House

1988 Residential

A concrete exposed residential work that won the Yoshioka Prize in 1990; representative of his approach to modern homes.

exposed concretemodern vernacular house

Ajina House

1988 Residential

A key house in a series of residential works; part of the body of work awarded the AIJ Award.

reinforced concreteattention to detailing

Tsuyama House

1994 Residential

A 1994 house exemplifying his use of concrete, steel and glass in residential design.

structural expressionmaterial contrast

Aji Town Hall

1996 Public Building

Design for Aji Town Hall; praised for inheriting modernist rational methods while delivering fresh spatial expression; earned the Agency for Cultural Affairs Newcomer Award.

public functionmodernist inheritancecourtyard spaces

Nagisa Park Elementary School

2003 Educational facility

A school building designed to engage the community; received the Hiroshima Urban Design Award (Grand Prize).

school architecturecommunity integration

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear spatial expression based on exposed concretedesign approach inheriting modernist rationality
Recurring Motifs
freestanding concrete walls with lightweight roofsplayful elements such as courtyards and inverted-cone assembly spaces

Legacy

An architect acclaimed for his exposed-concrete residential work and distinctive contemporary vernacular approach. Also recognized as an educator with numerous awards.

Academic Societies

  • Architectural Institute of Japan

Trivia

  • Established Toru Murakami Architecture Office in 1976.
  • Graduation design was assisted by architect Toshiaki Ishida during his student days.
  • Had work experience at Toyo Ito & Associates as an open desk placement.
  • He refers to his houses as 'contemporary vernacular houses'.