On Friday, June 19, a talk event was held at the Mita Campus North Building Hall to commemorate the publication of "Fumihiko Maki at Keio University: Architecture and Urbanism" (Keio University Press). Architect Fumihiko Maki studied at Keio University from childhood and, as an architect, designed facilities for the Mita, Hiyoshi, and Shonan Fujisawa campuses. This book compiles the research results of the Takenaka Corporation Endowed Chair "Fumihiko Maki: Architecture and Urbanism," which was held at SFC for five years starting in 2021.
Following opening remarks by President Itoh, who spent his time from childhood to university in Maki-designed buildings, and Toichi Takenaka, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Takenaka Corporation, who has a deep relationship with Fumihiko Maki and spoke about his experiences visiting Maki's architecture, the first half of the lectures began. In the keynote lecture by Professor Hiroshi Matsukuma of the Faculty of Architecture and Building Engineering at Kanagawa University, the spirit of modernism maintained by Fumihiko Maki was unraveled as a "pure will to inherit the modernist spirit that began with fateful encounters with pioneers," linking it to 100 years of modernist history while citing many of his words. Subsequently, Ms. Midori Tsuboi, daughter of Fumihiko Maki, and Mr. Akira Uenishi, Representative of Akira Uenishi Design, Architecture and Urban Design, gave a precious presentation deciphering parts of a notebook left in the family's possession regarding his youthful "Journey to the West."
In the second half, Hidetoshi Ohno, Representative of APL Associates Inc., joined the three speakers for a discussion moderated by Yasushi Ikeda, Project Professor at the Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo. Following the lectures in the first half, a wide range of topics were developed. During the discussion, the Fumihiko Maki Archive established at SFC, which served as the catalyst for the endowed chair, was also discussed in terms of its important function and educational significance for passing on to the new generation. Furthermore, many stakeholders were among the participants, and it was a valuable opportunity to hear their comments as well.
Photography: Takeshi Kishi