Earthquake Behavior of the Sendai Media Library (1995 - 2000)

March 11, 2011 - Sendai Media Library, Japan

architect: Toyo Ito

structural engineer: Mutsuro Sasaki

The exemplary behavior of the media library in Sendai, northeast Japan, during the earthquake of March 11, 2011 is representative of many of the buildings recently constructed in Japan. The International Union of Architects, through the words of its President Louise Cox, expressed its solidarity with the Japanese people and its admiration for the earthquake-resistant building system envisioned and implemented over the past decades. The design and construction of buildings and building equipment have demonstrated great resilience and adaptability during earthquakes of unusual magnitude, thus avoiding huge human and material losses.

Read the full text in the printed edition of Arhitectura magazine, issue 1/2011