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St. Mary's Cathedral
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo was designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1964. It replaces an earlier wooden church destroyed during World War II. The building adopts a modernist approach while referencing traditional church forms.
The structure consists of eight curved concrete walls that rise and twist upward, forming a cruciform plan when viewed from above. These surfaces create vertical movement and direct the eye upward. Narrow slits between the walls introduce natural light, producing shifting light patterns across the interior.
The exterior is clad in stainless steel panels that reflect the surrounding sky, creating a dynamic surface condition. Inside, exposed concrete defines the structure and retains a raw finish. This material treatment supports both spatial clarity and a restrained atmosphere.
St. Mary’s Cathedral in Tokyo was designed by Kenzo Tange and completed in 1964. It replaces an earlier wooden church destroyed during World War II. The building adopts a modernist approach while referencing traditional church forms.
The structure consists of eight curved concrete walls that rise and twist upward, forming a cruciform plan when viewed from above. These surfaces create vertical movement and direct the eye upward. Narrow slits between the walls introduce natural light, producing shifting light patterns across the interior.
The exterior is clad in stainless steel panels that reflect the surrounding sky, creating a dynamic surface condition. Inside, exposed concrete defines the structure and retains a raw finish. This material treatment supports both spatial clarity and a restrained atmosphere.
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