VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Architecture Center Houston, in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan at Houston presents the exhibition Parallel Nippon: Contemporary Japanese Architecture 1996 – 2006.  On view  March 24 – April 22, 2011. Opening Reception March 24. 5:30 – 7:00pm.

The Japan Foundation and the Architectural Institute of Japan are proud to present Parallel Nippon: Contemporary Japanese Architecture 1996-2006, an exhibition of Japan’s architectural culture that opened at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in 2007 and is touring internationally. Third in a series of exhibitions that began in 1986, Parallel Nippon focuses on contemporary Japanese architecture, spanning the latter half of the 1990s through the first years of the twenty-first century and the period marking Japan’s transition from the “bubble” to “post-bubble.”

“Post bubble” Japanese architecture was greatly influenced by the social and economic changes of the decade. Birthrate decline, population aging, rising social consciousness and urban migration were a few of the issues that confronted architects with questions such as what is a city and what does it mean to “live” in a particular place?

Their quest has resulted in many outstanding works of architecture that not only incorporate the latest forms and materials but also present new ways of living. Featuring both buildings completed on Japanese soil and projects realized by Japanese architects abroad, this exhibition proposes to compare and showcase these various architectural efforts by means of four thematic sections: City, Life, Culture, and Dwelling.

Houston is the only US location scheduled on this exhibition’s world tour.

The Japan Foundation and the Architectural Institute of Japan
Since its establishment in 1972, the Japan Foundation has carried out a diverse program of activities in the fields of cultural and arts exchange, Japanese language education, Japan studies, and intellectual exchange, with the aims of helping people in other countries to understand Japan better and fostering mutual understanding among all nations of the world.

The Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) was founded in April 1886, as an academic association for architects and building engineers. AIJ has served as a core institution on the Japanese architectural scene for over 120 years, pursuing social and cultural activities aimed at the advancement of architecture-related science, technology, and art.

Architecture Center Houston (ArCH) is a collaboration of AIA Houston and the Architecture Center Houston Foundation. ArCH is located downtown at 315 Capitol, Suite 120 on the corner of Bagby and Capitol. Parking is available in the Hobby Center parking garage located across the street with entrances on Rusk and Walker. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 3pm

Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.