Sixteen Trials of Dojunkai

The first part of an exhibition series examining urban living from a wide range of perspectives, this display out at Toyocho's architecture-centric Gallery A4 focuses on the 'Dojunkai' apartments, 16 steel-and-concrete condominium blocks constructed after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake to withstand even the most powerful of quakes. Representing the peak of architectural innovation at the time, the Dojunkai survived until 2013, when the Uenoshita Apartments building, the last representative of the 16, was demolished despite the efforts of residents and preservation activists. Providing a complete look at how these structures stood out in the urban history of Tokyo, 'Sixteen Trials of Dojunkai' displays blueprints, models, photos and video, plus a partial reconstruction of a Dojunkai room. Tours of related structures also take place during the event period, while a symposium on the topic of urban living will take place on April 14.