Royal Flush

edited by Sheila Kim-Jamet -- Interior Design, 11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Toyo Ito just added yet another notch to his belt. This time, it's the Royal Institute of British Architects's Royal Gold Medal, personally approved by Queen Elizabeth and presented annually to a person or firm in recognition of an influential body of work. Ito receives the RIBA medal in London on February 15.

His most recent London project was the temporary Serpentine Gallery pavilion in the summer of 2002. Notable Japanese examples of his light, minimalist style are the Restaurant Nomad in Tokyo, 1986, and the Sendai Mediatheque, 2001. VivoCity in Singapore, the Hôpital Cognacq-Jay in Paris, and an expansion to the Fira de Barcelona park in Spain will soon join the international list.