Itsuko Hasegawa has never viewed architecture as being a singular and isolated creative act by one individual – on the contrary, she is convinced that building should be a social event. Hence, she includes not only state-of-the-art CAD programs in each planning and design phase, but also the outcome of extensive interviews with future users of a given building. Hasegawa always allows some breathing space for the unforeseen and the unknown whenever building plans are transformed into architectural solutions for concrete activities and special functions. Her buildings – which combine clarity and playfulness and which are full of energy stemming from the interplay of material, color, transparency and form – are places which enhance and inspire people’s lives. This monograph presents the 16 most significant buildings and projects in the 1990s: museums and galleries, schools, sport and recreation centers, and apartment buildings, and includes contributions by Patrice Goulet and Koji Taki. pp. 143

S09/0918X