During the exhibition, an online conference co-organized with Institut français du Japon was held every day from October 25th to 28th. The first day’s session, “Architecture and Urbanism in Post-COVID Age That Bridges to Paris 2024,” featured speakers Kengo Kuma, the architect involved in the design of the National Stadium in Tokyo, and Dominique Perrault, the architect overseeing the design of the new city for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Facilitated by architect and art historian Yoshiyuki Yamana, they discussed the results that public architecture brings to cities and citizens’ lives and their visions for architecture, cities and civic lives in the post-COVID age.

Online Conference “Architecture and Urbanism in Post-COVID Age That Bridges to Paris 2024” (Institut français du Japon)

At the conference, he introduced examples of carbon neutrality to reduce waste as a creator, local production for local consumption from the perspective of logistics, and the use of technology. He said that he sensed a growing awareness among architects, products, and companies of sustainable and environmentally conscious manufacturing. He also talked about the importance of thinking big and moving small, rather than waiting for the market or overall consensus, and the need to consider the perspective of non-humans (animals, insects, plants, etc.) in terms of diversity. The trilogy included several interesting proposals that gave us a sense of the future of cities and design.

From Online Conference “Architecture and Urbanism in Post-COVID Age That Bridges to Paris 2024”

Overall, although the number of venues at this year’s DESIGNART was slightly reduced due to the effects of the corona disaster, I was impressed by the quality of the individual exhibits. However, I was impressed by the quality of the content of each exhibit, which was much better than last year’s. As in last year’s event, admission restrictions and alcohol disinfection were strictly enforced at each venue, but I think it would have been safer to enjoy the event if vaccine passports, which are mandatory in the U.S. and other countries, had been included. I hope to be able to visit the event next year as an after-COVID event.

DESIGNART TOKYO 2021
Date: October 22nd – 31st, 2021
Area: Omotesando, Gaienmae, Harajuku, Meiji-jingumae, Shibuya, Ebisu, Daikanyama, Nakameguro, Roppongi, Ginza and Online
Organizer: DESIGNART TOKYO Committee
https://www.designart.jp