Several women were riding the escalator down to the atrium

Women on escalator — Women on an escalator

The most striking feature of the Tokyo International Forum is surely its vast glass atrium. From ceiling to floor, the structure draws in light without restraint. It was designed by Rafael Viñoly, an architect born in Uruguay, whose works often make liberal use of transparent materials. Glass is a convenient medium—it not only admits light but also lends a sense of weightlessness to a building. In seeking lightness over heaviness, his design seems to echo the temperament of Tokyo itself.

Along one side of the atrium, an escalator runs beside a great wall. When you think about it, an escalator is a peculiar invention—it carries people up and down automatically, while they do absolutely nothing. Yet somehow, it gives the illusion of making progress. On the descending side of that escalator, a few women were riding down. One girl held a black umbrella, a sure sign that it must have been raining outside.

Tokyo International Forum on Google Map

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