Takamitsu Azuma was a Japanese architect, and winner of the 1995 the Prize of AIJ. He was a follower of Le Corbusier and He was one of the most significant architects of the 20th century, combining traditional Japanese styles with modernism, and designed new types of houses symbolized living in the metropolis.
Early life (1933–1957)
He was born in the center of the Osaka, and He raised with five sisters and younger brother. He grew up in the aftermath of the Pacific War. Just on the day of the end of the war, He returned to Osaka from the evacuation area, and the sight he saw was the starting point for his architect life. Air raid shelter and burn marks became his good playground, explore, dig and find something, just like as Boy's secret base. He went to Shimizudani High School, and saw Gary Cooper starring "The Fountainhead". He was impressed by the belief and justice of the architects, and wanted to be an architect. Therefore, He tried and won the highly competitive entrance exam for the one of the most prestigious University in Japan, and graduated from Osaka University in 1957.
Career
After graduating, He worked as a Bureaucrat in Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and working for seven years for Junzo Sakakura at Osaka office. In 1964, He designed the City hall of Hiraoka as "Warped roof, large eaves, spiral staircase, and sash with well-designed windows". When the city decided to rebuild this hall, citizens have campaigned to protect this excellent designed building. Besides, He designed the famous pedestrian space "Shinjuku Station :ja:新宿駅西口地下広場|West Gate Underground Park" and also supervised the design in 1966. This park is a passage leading to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and with an underground culture history, such as the center of anti-Vietnam war movement 'folk song guerrilla' activities in the 1960s. West Gate Underground Park, Tokyo West Gate Underground Park In 1966, He built his own house "Azuma House", is a famous house called "The Tower House" which constructed with Béton brut, used a tiny plot of land of 20.5 square meters and has six stories and 65 square meters. Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Therefore, this "Azuma house " was built in a prime location in Tokyo with high land prices, and was built using a narrow land in the shape of a triangle. From the moment of its creation it was regarded as a symbol of living in a modern metropolis center. Therefore, Every Japanese architect knows this epoch-making house. Even after building this house, he designed more than 100 historic homes. In 1967, He established his own firm. While He is designing the Mitsui Group Hall for the Expo '70 held in Japan. In 1971, He formed the group ARCHITEXT with Takefumi Aida, Mayumi Miyawaki, Makoto Suzuki and Minoru Takeyama. In 1985, He became a professor at his alma mater, Osaka University; in 1997 Professor of Chiba Institute of Technology.
