1986
The Tower of the Winds is a project that largely demonstrates Toyo Ito’s approach to architecture, especially his belief in the importance of technology and its special role in the future of architecture. The project not only embraces technology and engages it in dialogue with the city but also establishes a direct symbolic link between nature and construction.
The Tower of the Winds was created as a paraphrase of a famous ancient architectural monument in Athens. More techno sculpture than building. A 21 meter high cylinder stores water tanks for an underground shopping center. The steel-paneled tower mirrors the city during the day and turns into an interactive screen at night that reacts to the wind and sounds.
The tower is constantly transforming. Neon lamps located under a thin acrylic structure create fantastic lighting effects at night, modulated by the strength and direction of the wind: 1300 lamps, 12 neon rings and 30 lanterns change color and intensity depending on the strength of the wind and the noise level recorded by special indicators. As a result, there is no template, as the light display is a direct representation of the environment depicted on the surface of the 21 meter high cylinder. The architect creates endless interconnections between technology, architecture, the city and its inhabitants, highlighting the deep influence the city has on humanity.