ST.
MARY' S CATHEDRAL,
After experiencing their grandeur, trying
to reach the sky, and their ineffably
mystical spaces, I began to imagine new
spaces, and I wanted to create them
using modern technology.
-Kenzo Tange
ARCHITECT'S BACKGROUND
Kenzo Tange ( 丹下健三 , Tange Kenzō,
September 4, 1913 - March 22, 2005) .He was
one of the most significant architects of the
20th century, combining traditional Japanese
styles with modernity and designing
magnificent structures on five continents.In
addition, he was a member of CIAM (Congres
Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne) in the
1950s. His career spanned the entire second
half of the 20th century and created
numerous striking buildings in Tokyo like
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Yoyogi
National Gymnasium, Fuji TV Building, and St.
Mary's Cathedral. Furthermore, influenced
from an early age by the Swiss modernist, Le
Corbusier, Tange gained international
recognition in 1949 when he won the
competition for the design of Hiroshima Peace
Memorial Park. In 1954, he received Royal
Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British
Architects and received the AIA Gold Medal
in 1966. In 1987 he was also awarded the
Pritzker Architecture Prize, and in 1993 he
received the Japan Art Association’s
Praemium Imperiale prize for architecture. In
2005, his funeral was held in this work of his,
St. Mary's Cathedral, Tokyo, Japan.
BUILDING'S BACKGROUND
St. Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo and is located
in the Sekiguchi neighbourhood of Bunkyo,
Tokyo, Japan. Built-in 1964 and covers an area
of ​2541 m². The concept takes the form of a
bird with outstretched wings. The building is
modernist and metabolism, influenced by Le
Corbusier. The layout of the building is in the
shape of a cross where 8 hyperbolic
parabolas rise up as a contemporary
landmark of the cathedral.
In 1945 a fire caused by an air attack in World
War II destroyed the formerly wooden Gothic
church. In 1960, Kenzo Tange won the tender
for the reconstruction of the modern St. Mary's
Cathedral in Tokyo, Japan.
In 2007, Taisei Construction Co. and Tange
Associates began restoration work mainly on
the roof due to the ingress of rainwater over
the years, causing the bolts that hold the outer
steel panels to rust, which would lead to rust.
This would pose a high risk of major accidents
by strong winds.
DEFINITION OF STRUCTURAL BUILDING MATERIALS:
TOKYO, JAPAN Structural materials are materials used primarily for mechanical properties as
DEFINITION OF ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING MATERIALS: well as to support the building. This includes the responses of the material to an
Architectural materials are mainly applied force, whether elastic or plastic, hardness and resistance. The 2
used to enhance appearance for structural materials analyzed are
KENZO TANGE aesthetic reasons. The 5 stainless steel frame and reinforced concrete. ELEVATIONS
architectural materials analyzed
SITE PLAN are sandstone, galvanized
aluminium, Italian marble,
concrete slab and stained glass.
1. Baptismal Font
2. Bust of St. Francis
Xavier
2. STAINLESS STEEL FRAME
ARCHITECTURAL AND STRUCTURAL (STRUCTURAL MATERIAL)
3. Statue of the Pieta
4. The Holy Cross
MATERIALS LEGEND Wear with iron bolts, which are held with
THREE-DIMENSIONAL
5. The Altar iron-shaped bolts. It is used on the roof
6. Altar of the Virgin Mary
2
due to improved corrosion resistance
PERSPECTIVE
7
7. The Organ that protects the building from many
8. Bell Tower 4 different hard climatic conditions. This
9. Grotto of Lourdes 3 helps to reduce the CO2 footprint in the
environment as it is nearly 100%
YEAR: AREA:
1. SANDSTONE 5 and 6
1
recyclable.
1964 2541 m²
(ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL) The exterior facade draws Resistant to corrosion, environmentally
attention to itself with metallic friendly, low maintenance, permanent,
FLOOR LAYOUT/PLAN attractive appearance.
tones, which are particularly
dazzling on a sunny day, the
3. GALVANIZED ALUMINIUM
interior captivates with gloomy
tones and unfinished textures, very (ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL)
similar to the Japanese concept of
Wabi-Sabi, which represents the
aesthetic enjoyment of things. It is
also used in the works of other
architects, such as the famous
Church of Light by Tadao Ando.
It has durability. fire-
resistant, and possesses
strength.
The main cladding and façade of the
building, where the roof is replaced
with an aluminium frame for easy
repair, helps protect the metal from
rust and corrosion, which is very
important for exteriors exposed to
elements and conditions.
Anti-corrosive, anti-corrosion,
extremely durable, economical, ideal
for outdoor use and fireproof.
Supported by iron bolts.
IDEAS OR CONCEPTS BEHIND THE ELECTION OF MATERIALS
Modernist is based on innovative building technologies,
functionalism, minimalism, rejection of ornament.
“METABOLISM” consisted of using architecture as a tool
for the possible change in society.
1. SANDSTONE, Unfinished texture like the Japanese
concept of "Wasasabi" which is in complete contrast
to the shiny metal wings.
2. ITALIAN MARBLE, It comes from Italy's rich stone
heritage, which is considered superior due to its
quantities such as purity, durability and beautiful
white colour.
3. STAINED GLASS, It lets light to penetrate into the
dark room, creates contrasts and reinforces the
symbolism of the church as a religious space.
Depicts biblical scenes, communicates biblical
stories, Christian beliefs and improves the visual
appearance and spatial qualities.
4. GALVANIZED ALUMINIUM, The reflection on the
facade is like a shiny dress. Visible crystals in the
siding create a mottled aesthetic known as a
"spangle". Properties such as corrosion resistance,
durability and long-term economy make it ideal for
outdoor use.
5. STAINLESS STEEL FRAME, used to support the
roof with properties such as corrosion resistance,
long life, ease of maintenance and also
environmental friendliness.
6. CONCRETE, open and raw, in contrast to the
additive surface. It feels like getting under your
skin and makes you feel calm. It shows a dramatic
spectacle in contact with light that penetrates
through openings or windows on the sides of the
cross.
MATERIAL INSTALLATION OF ST.MARY'S CATHEDRAL, TOKYO, JAPAN.
4. ITALIAN MARBLE
(ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL)
It is used as a flooring of the altar (concrete that has not attained design strength)
platform. It is important to be
superior due to its durability, purity
and beautiful white colour.
5.CONCRETE SLAB
(ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL)
6. REINFORCED CONCRETE
Process of scaffolding the (STRUCTURAL MATERIAL) Light
concrete structure effects on
the
8 The concrete curved walls hold the entire structure as a roof and walls
St. Mary's
that support the cathedral. Use to pick up the tension of the traction and
Cathedral
minimize the width of the cracks developed.
, Tokyo,
Japan.
The printing force of 10,000 psi, fire resist, permanently of adverse
weather conditions.
The roof , the window with skylights and the large cross shape are
the only places where natural light comes in, its design is best
Concrete with steel reinforcements in a huge framework.
perceived from the outside.
The stained glass allows the classic dramatization
Once the design has been completed, the structural drawings will start to produce and the 7. STAINED GLASS of light resulting in the Roman churches. The
concrete and reinforcing steel quantities are estimated as well as the amount of (ARCHITECTURAL MATERIAL) painted details and yellow spots are used to
formwork and shoring.
improve the design.
Surely after that, will start to place reinforcement steel and supply the concrete that meets
The glass stims are arranged so that they form
the specific climate. The concrete formwork and shoring will start to place to support the
patterns or persistent images by lead strips and
weight of the wet concrete and other construction loads. After that, will start to place
are worn by a rigid frame.
concrete and the curing process will undergo to gain the required design strength.
Alkali, silica and lead oxide. The colour is generated
by adding metal oxide to raw materials when
After going through the procedures above, a proper reshoring sequence must be specified
to prevent sustained loads from being prematurely applied to green concrete merged.
CONCLUSION:
In my opinion, I believe that the way these
materials are chosen can create a living unit
that can use by all people which unites
technology and humanity. All the materials
chosen are specifically to expose the muscles,
bones, and skin of the St. Mary's Cathedral,
Tokyo, Japan. In addition, the light effects on
the curved walls make the interior atmosphere
extremely enveloping as Kenzo Tange
conceived this church as a concrete structure,
simple in concept and complex in shape, which
recalls the lightness of a bird and its wings.

In conclusion, Kenzo Tange had used these

The different wing heights create a dynamic
shape in the sky.
The highest wing is 39.41 m high
The bell tower is 60 meters high and the
concrete walls are integrated into the
concept. At first glance, all sides of the hood
appear flat but are actually hyperbolic and
the corners form a straight line.
GERALD KHO MING XIANG
materials to their full potential to combines a
Japanese theme with oriental culture and
sensitivity and resolves the complexity of the
project, and this make it become the brilliant
architecture ever of his.
The reflection of the sunlight on the stainless REFERENCES:
steel outer cladding looks like a shimmering
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increase the dynamism of the structure. All of cathedral-kenzo-tange
this makes the church an emblematic 2. Carlos Zeballos (2020, December 17). "Kenzo Tange: St.
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It is believed that raw materials have a sense Tokyo / Kenzo Tange". Retrieved from:
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Symbolized biblical concepts of concretized or)
and explicit strength. Reflection in stainless 4. Shuzhi. V.A.P.B. (2018, October 7), “St. Mary Cathedral /
steel looks like a bright dress on concrete Kenzo Tange“. Retrieved from:
slabs. https://tokyo.catholic.jp/english/archdiocese_en/17918/
5.“Saint Mary's Cathedral of Tokyo - Data, Photos & Plans“
(2018, April 10). Retrieved from:
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strength, durability, different tools, infinity. cathedral-of-tokyo/
0343462 TUTOR:AR.EDWIN CHAN YEANG LIONG BLD61604 (PROJECT 1)