Architect Azuma Rie makes speech in Shanghai
Azuma Rie, a renowned Japanese architect, was in town for a speech at Shanghai Center Theater last weekend.
Born in 1959 in Osaka, Rie graduated from Japan Women’s University in 1982 and completed the School of Architecture at Tokyo University in 1984. Four years later, she obtained her master's degree in architecture at Cornell University.
Rie is known in China for her designs of top boutique hotels such as KIKKOSHIN and HOSHINOYA. So far, Rie has completed six boutique hotels for HOSHINOYA.
In the speech, organized by TOTO China and TOTO Gallery Ma, Rie discussed her experience working with HOSHINOYA.
“When I am designing a building, I am always thinking about how it will appear 50 years or 100 years later,” she said. “I and my team will look at the surroundings very carefully, retaining the essence of traditional Japanese architecture while at the same time, catering to the living function of modern people.”