The architecture of Hiroshi Sugimoto and Tomoyuki Sakakida’s New Material Research Laboratory revives ancient construction materials for the present. The oldest things are the newest this paradoxical idea is present throughout the oeuvre of contemporary Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto. In 2008, Sugimoto and the architect Tomoyuki Sakakida founded the New Material Research Laboratory, an architectural firm that researches and develops new materials from known materials and techniques by applying a different approach and interpretation. The Laboratory’s aim is to rethink the use of old materials passed on to us from ancient times, the Middle Ages and the modern period. It advocates for a reconnection of the present with a bygone era, and to extend that connection to the future through architecture.
Old Is New delves into the art and architecture, as well as the archaeological philosophy and contemporary practice of the New Material Research Laboratory. Richly illustrated, the book shows the choice of materials for each project. The photographs in itself are compositions, presenting scenes that show a balance of the present and past. Sugimoto and Sakakida, discussing their practice and approach, wrote the principal texts of this volume. Additional text contributions delve into the origin of the laboratory’s design ethos rooted in Japanese tradition and aesthetics and their historical context. The book also includes an annotated index of materials and classic Japanese techniques with information drawn from the laboratory s research. AUTHORS: Hiroshi Sugimoto was born in Tokyo in 1948. He has received international recognition as a photographic artist through his solid technique and clear concept seen in series such as Seascapes and Theaters, and his works are collected by major art museums throughout the world. Tomoyuki Sakakida was born in Shiga in 1976. He studied architecture at the Kyoto Institute of Technology and established his own practice, Tomoyuki Sakakida Architect and Associates, in 2003. He is currently teaching at the Kyoto University of Art and Design. SELLING POINTS: . Acclaimed artist Hiroshi Sugimoto and architect Tomoyuki Sakakida founded the NMRL in 2008 . Their aim is to reinterpret the use of materials and construction methods from ancient times and to apply them in a modern setting . This richly illustrated book discusses their practice and approach using examples of selected projects 400 illustrations
