Kenzo Tange

Date of Birth: September 4, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: March 22, 2005

Biography

Kenzo Tange was a renowned Japanese architect, urban planner, and theorist, celebrated for his influential contributions to modern architecture and urban design. Born on September 4, 1913, in Osaka, Japan, Tange’s work seamlessly integrated traditional Japanese aesthetics with modernist principles, making him a pivotal figure in post-war architecture. Tange graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1938 with a degree in architecture. After World War II, he gained international recognition for his design of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a project that symbolized hope and reconstruction for the war-torn nation. His innovative approach continued with notable projects such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Throughout his career, Tange received numerous awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1987. His vision and designs have left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape, blending functionality with cultural symbolism.

5 Interesting Facts about Kenzo Tange

1. Kenzo Tange was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1987, often regarded as the Nobel Prize of architecture.

2. Tange was a professor at the University of Tokyo and mentored several future influential architects.

3. His design for the Yoyogi National Gymnasium is celebrated for its innovative suspension roof design, which was ahead of its time.

4. Tange was instrumental in the reconstruction of Hiroshima after World War II, designing the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.

5. He was an advocate for Metabolism, a post-war Japanese architectural movement that envisioned cities of the future with adaptable and expandable structures.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Kenzo Tange

1. “Architecture must have something that appeals to the human heart. Creative work is expressed in our time as a union of technology and humanity.”

2. “Designs of the future will have to be based on the idea of a living, changing society.”

3. “Tradition is not something that belongs to the past; it is a process of development.”

4. “Architecture is not just for the present but for the future, and it must be a part of the life and culture of the time.”

5. “The real architecture is not the building itself, but the way it is experienced by people.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Kenzo Tange’s highest net worth is estimated to have reached approximately $10 million at the peak of his career.

Children

Kenzo Tange had one son, Paul Noritaka Tange, who followed in his father’s footsteps and became an accomplished architect, leading the architectural firm Tange Associates.