Arquitectura

A booming Japanese economy at that time enabled huge investment in fantastical and experimental urban building projects. By 1993, however, a financial recession was gripping the country. Japan began restructuring its financial systems and, as a consequence, social, cultural and architectural changes occurred on a large scale. Architects across Japan started experimenting and building in new, more cost-effective ways, and environmental and ecological concerns led to the development of innovative materials and new technologies. This backlash against the over-development and spending of earlier years was led by established figures from the "Bubble" era, such as Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Toyo, Fumihikop Maki and Ryoji Suzuki, as well as emerging architects Juan Aoki, Shigeru Ban, Kazuyo Sejima, SANAA and Atelier Bow-Wow.

Beyond the Bubble examines two contrasting, but equally extraordinary, phases in the recent history of Japanese's architecture: the explosive "Bubble" era of the 1980s and early 1990s, and the post-Bubble years leading up to the present day. The first period often referred to as the new golden age of Japanese architecture" witnessed a spectacular proliferation of unusual buildings and urban complexes in Japan's major cities, while the latter has seen work demonstrating a sense of modesty, restraint and environmental innovation.

Pioneers of the Bubble era included such internationally renowned architects as Arata Isozaki, Tadao Ando, Fumihiko Maki, Kazuo Shinohara, Toyo Alto, Hiroshi Hara and Shin Takamatsu.