Lego imperial hotel - 21017 Mode D'Emploi
The original Imperial Hotel was a three-story, wooden
Victorian-style structure built across the avenue from
the Emperor’s palace. It opened in 1890 and was the
only European-style hotel in the country at that time.
By 1915 the hotel was no longer able to accommodate
the growing numbers of visitors and it was decided
to replace the out-dated building with a new modern
hotel.
only European-style hotel in the country at that time.
By 1915 the hotel was no longer able to accommodate
the growing numbers of visitors and it was decided
to replace the out-dated building with a new modern
hotel.
Looking for a western architect who could bridge the
cultural divide between East and West, the hotel’s
owners commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design
and build the new Imperial Hotel. In many ways Wright
was the perfect choice for the task. He had long been
fascinated with Japanese culture, especially after his
first visit to the country in 1905, and had become an
avid collector of Japanese prints.
cultural divide between East and West, the hotel’s
owners commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design
and build the new Imperial Hotel. In many ways Wright
was the perfect choice for the task. He had long been
fascinated with Japanese culture, especially after his
first visit to the country in 1905, and had become an
avid collector of Japanese prints.
Wright was glad to spend a great deal of time in Tokyo
working on the project that consumed his attention, off
and on, from 1916 to 1922. His goal from the outset was
to design a building that would appeal to many and
genuinely respect the Japanese culture.
working on the project that consumed his attention, off
and on, from 1916 to 1922. His goal from the outset was
to design a building that would appeal to many and
genuinely respect the Japanese culture.
The 250 room hotel was designed roughly in the shape
of its own logo, with the guest room wings forming the
letter “H”, while the public rooms were in a smaller but
taller central wing shaped like the letter “I” that cut
through the middle of the “H”. The visual effect of the
planned design would be both stunning and dramatic.
taller central wing shaped like the letter “I” that cut
through the middle of the “H”. The visual effect of the
planned design would be both stunning and dramatic.
Its place in the history of architecture
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10/09/2012 12:24 PM