Sendai Mediatheque, Japan

Sendai Mediatheque embodies a new concept of space structure. The complex includes an art gallery, library, and media center. The 32 m high building is arranged over 9 levels, 2 below and 7 above ground. Each floor plan is 50 m square. The total floor area is 21 500 m 2 . It consists of two elements of "plate" and "tube". The "plates" are six flat slabs. "Tubes" are 13 treelike columns that vertically penetrate the plates. These are the flexible structural members which also act as the vertical traffic line and as the space where energies flow. As a new model of future architecture, a minimal and pure structural system which contains those concepts such as clear tubes with HP-shape's latticed shell by slender steel pipes for the main structure, extremely thin plates with steel sandwiched structure, and earthquake-energy absorbing system setting at the basement was proposed.