Naha Prefectural Museum, Okinawa, Ishimoto and Niki Architects, 2007, Image
@brutal_zen Paul Tulett ©

Concrete Paradise: Okinawan Brutalist Architecture, Japan Society
Free Live Webinar, Wednesday, March 30 at 7 pm EDT

Brutalist architecture on Japan's Okinawa prefecture was born of necessity, as seasonal typhoons are commonplace and concrete buildings can better withstand severe weather than those made of wood and other natural materials. Today, 90 percent of new buildings on Okinawa are made of concrete, reflecting in architecture the post-Occupation Americanization of Japan. This live webinar explores the little-known Brutalist architecture on Okinawa as part of special programming commemorating the 50th anniversary year of Okinawa's return to Japanese sovereignty from the U.S. in 1972. Speakers also address the problems of concrete as a building material, considering sustainable strategies such as re-use and longevity while questioning its continued prevalence in building and associated environmental costs.

Speakers:
Paul Tulett, Okinawa-based photographer
Michael Kubo, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for Architectural History and Theory, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design,
University of Houston
Moderator: Tiffany Lambert, Curator, Japan Society

Read more and register, click here