Aida Doi Architects Create Playful Geometric Toy Block Project

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Toy Block Project – Architecture is not only completed work. Architecture has universality even if it is not built. The AIDA BLOCK, which I designed in 1981, could be applied to education and the creation of real projects. It was the series of “TOY BLOCK HOUSE”, and with regard to the educational aspect, it was put into practice in workshops with children. For example, at the exhibition “Takefumi Aida” (JIA,Tokyo,2016), children were asked to create figurative objects with the AIDA BLOCK. More recently, a parent-child workshop was held at WHAT MUSEUM (Tokyo).

Architizer chatted with Takefumi Aida (Founder) and Shiro Doi (Representative Director) at Aida Doi Architects to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Takefumi Aida and Shiro Doi: Toy Block House I started the series, and it is necessary therefore to explain why this work led to the others that followed. At the time I was considering how it might be possible to escape from the narrow standards of modernism or to make up for what was missing in modernism when l happened to think of the word “playfulness”. Pleasure as the goal of play is an important issue related to a basic aspect of human life. I came to wonder whether it was not a consideration of “play” that was lacking in modernism. It was also around this time that I suddenly began to find the writings of Johan Huizinga and Roger Caillois particularly meaningful.

What do you believe is the most unique or ‘standout’ component of the project?

AIDA BLOCK was created in the image of the archetypal building blocks that make up architecture. Hence the idea of a set of building blocks based on geometric forms (circles, triangles and squares). It would be a useful tool for a variety of architectural forms, from actual projects to children’s workshops. And regardless of Aida’s projects to date, it is bound to become a creative tool for architecture students and young architects.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

In TOY BLOCK HOUSE, various technical innovations were necessary in order to create the appearance of toy blocks. Various elements such as finishes, joints, colours and earthquake-resistant structure were adjusted in order to achieve uniformity between the external and internal expression of toy blocks. The basic units for the toy blocks were 60 cm and 120 cm, based on human scale, which did not correspond to the standard dimensions of the building materials, so they were divided by joints. Today, with the development of technology enabling a wide range of forms, it may not be possible to apply the toy blocks to all architectural designs. However, they do provide an opportunity to return to the architectural prototype that has existed since the Greeks.

How did the context of your project — environmental, social or cultural — influence your design?

In Japan, the economic impact of post-World War II reconstruction was significant and suppressed architectural expression; until a few years before TOY BLOCK HOUSE began, there was still a strong modernist influence and orientation towards functionalist architecture. Later, in the 1970s, the period of rapid economic growth began and the whole nation had more economic and mental capacity. Against this background, the TOY BLOCK HOUSE was created based on playfulness, opening up possibilities for architectural expression.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

TOY BLOCK HOUSE is constructed of reinforced concrete, but we believe that the expression of TOY BLOCK can be realised by any material.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

Various details representing toy blocks in reinforced concrete. For example, joints, eaves and rainwater drainage.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project?

The idea of sustainability as it is known today was not common at the time, but TOY BLOCK HOUSE took into account the longevity of the building, such as rainproofing and wall stain prevention.

In what ways did you collaborate with others, and how did that add value to the project?

The representation of TOY BLOCK HOUSE is difficult in terms of construction. Therefore, the construction drawings were drawn in a way that the constructors (e.g. formwork carpenters) could understand.