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Japanese Shipbuilder finds Architectural Niche

By Glen Taylor - June 25, 2008

in Object Culture

PingMag MAKE caught up with seventh generation shipbuilder Kazushi Takahashi, a natural opportunist whose advice to business success is loaded with battle survival metaphors and he has recently turned his hand to architecture.

The surface of the Gundam inspired Jimbocho Theater building in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo is welded together without using a single bolt. He has completed a number of unusual projects applying shipbuilding technology and construction methods.

Architecture is about straight lines and structural dynamics, while ships are about curved lines and fluid dynamics. Plus, another difference is that carpenters and architects can't make boats, but shipbuilders can make both ships and houses. But the basic science behind it, the arithmetic and physics are the same. That is the common thread between them.

Checkout the interview for the back story and few points of wisdom.

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Frank

15 years ago

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Indeed , the structure isn't that curved or fluid as the article above is claiming it to be. But it has a certain dynamic dimension.
I've seen building like this before, i don't find it that original anymore...
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Rob

16 years ago

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I see neither curved lines nor fluid dynamics in this structure.
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