Open.ended narrative as a performative design strategy in Toyo Ito's architecture

Abstract

The consummation of architecture as a built fact produces a narrative that is received by the community for which is intended, getting appropriated and assumed by them. When the modern narrative, originated within architecture in the beginning of the twentieth century, fully entrusts its discourse to function, it generates and apparent neutrality that becomes rigid and minimizes the margin of appropriation. This, decontextualized over time, becomes oppressive. The limitation of the modern discourse, that has been detected and exposed by Toyo Ito from the beginning of his independent career from the 70s, produces a will to approach it differently. Through the insertion of narrative as a parameter of performativity, various tactics are identified that articulate this design strategy as the production of an open and permeable narrative that redefines the limits of its own architecture.