Fumihiko MakiMr. Maki's style of architecture is centered probably on Modernism. Early works as Nagoya University Toyota Memorial Hall (Nagoya, Aichi, 1962) and so on, has strong propencity toward Modernism. However, his works in the golden age of Post Modernism contain some elements which is not able to be explained by rationalism or functionalism.
Fumihiko Maki
The features of his architecture is arranging effectively the public space, inside or outside, considering the Landscapes, and fit it into the atmosphere of surrounding spaces. Moreover, each buildings constituting the entirety possesses diversification. These feature took over the proper tradition of Modernism as "flowing space" by Wright or inclined ways by Corbusier. Some works before the 1980's revealed his tendency to avoid authoritarian monuments and symbolic shapes, and to have determind to make buldings for civilians that they've often seen in the early Constructivism in Russia.
Although I mentioned these features, filling constructions of his works had new trials in the golden age of Post Modernism in Japan. Those were forms like outer shapes from the inner space's swelling seen in Fujisawa Municipal Gymnasium (Fujiswa, Kanagawa, 1984). The Structure Impressionalism showed by this feature. In addition, symbolic things, the feature of Post Modernism, have occured in his works, despite his tendency of hatred for symbolic designs before the 1980's. Keio University Hiyoshi Library (Yokohama, Kanagawa, 1985) was the extreme. For these reasons, we can understand his latest postition is very closed to Post Modernism.
However, the reason, why there is a clear difference between he and his contemporaries, is that he excluded excess of design constantly as he could, though most of his contemporary architects pursued the decorations featured in Post Modernism. He has based his style of architecture upon Modernism in any ages. Adopting Post Modernism and the Structure Impressionalism, he has never been commercial or decorative like most of Post Modernists. He is a existence improving Modernism along the present age.