(for Toyo Ito Associates & Architects)

Chikako was a key member of the team for a new station interior for the extension of the major subway line between Tokyo and Yokohama, which had the interior concept of ‘station for a book’. Yokohama was one of the first ports opened in 1856, after over 200 years of Japan being closed from any foreign relations and trades during the Edo Period. Yokohama eventually became one of the largest trade cities in Japan and had a significant Western cultural influence, developing its own identity. This rich history of townscape, culture and entertainments are represented in printed graphics on 1m x 1m ceramic tiles on the station platform and concourse walls. The station itself acts as a guidebook of a Yokohama’s history. 

The walls of the long platform are filled with postcards of old townscapes in the local area. Each postcard was enlarged to 5 x 6m, and by combining them over the full length of the platform, dynamic perspectives were created. Square white pixels were embedded in the original pictures, making the pictures appear as an ambient pattern in close-up but the entire picture becoming legible from a distance. 

The façade of the street entrance shows a smaller version of the platform graphic, which resembles a stripe pattern from when viewed from a distance. The concourse shows 1:1 scale people and common items from the late 19th century, some of which show a sense of humour, providing a fun learning experience of the area’s history to visitors. 

Architecturally, the space was designed in super-grid and in pure white.  All the graphics are printed in monochrome with subtle grey tone, creating an appropriate contrast with its simple background, drawing a likeness to a real book.  

Project Data : http://www.toyo-ito.co.jp/WWW/Project_Descript/2000-/2000-p_10/2000-p_10_en.html