A Japanese Constellation: Toyo Ito, Sanaa, and Beyond Hardcover -

Toyo Ito (born 1941) is well known for a highly conceptual take on architecture. After working in the offices of Kiyonori Kikutake, one of the most celebrated Japanese Metabolists, he founded his first office in 1971 and established Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects in 1979. Critically acclaimed projects include the Sendai Mediatheque (1995-2001) and the Taichung Metropolitan Opera House (2005-15) in Taiwan. He has been awarded some of the profession's highest honors, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2013), the Praemium Imperiale (2010), and RIBA's Royal Gold Medal (2006).

SANAA, founded in 1995 by the architects Kazuyo Sejima (born 1956) and Ryue Nishizawa (born 1966), has designed highly innovative buildings in Japan and internationally. Significant projects include the Rolex Learning Center (2004-10) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (1999-2004) in Kanazawa, which was awarded the 2004 Golden Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Both Sejima and Niszhizawa maintain parallel individual practices that have achieved international recognition for intensely experimental work. SANAA was the recipient of the 2010 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Pedro Gadanho is a Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art, New York.