the 2019 pritzker prize has been awarded to arata isozaki, the japanese architect, city planner and theorist. isozaki graduated from the university of tokyo in 1954, and began his career with an apprenticeship under 1987 pritzker laureate kenzo tange. he established arata isozaki & associates in 1963, after the allied occupation when japan had regained its sovereignty and was seeking physical rebuilding amidst political, economic and cultural uncertainty from the decimation of WWII. ?in order to find the most appropriate way to solve these problems, I could not dwell upon a single style,? isozaki explains. ?change became constant. paradoxically, this came to be my own style.?
 
below, courtesy of the pritzker architecture prize, we take a closer look at ten projects that have defined the japanese architect?s career, starting with one of isozaki?s first commissions.  
?ita prefectural library, ?ita, japan (1962-66)

photo courtesy of yasuhiro ishimoto (also main image)
 
 
isozaki?s early career began with the postwar rebuilding of japan in his hometown of ?ita on the island of kyushu. ?ita prefectural library (renamed ?ita art plaza) was one of the architect?s first commissions and part of a larger plan that emphasized ?growing architecture,? his theory that city planning should never remain static, but be intended for growth and evolution. an analogy with the human body was an inspiration for the organization of the building, which was realized mainly in exposed c...