When asked about Japan, generally there are two kinds of people: those who think of samurai, martial arts, geishas and Buddhist monks; and those who think of robots, fast trains, manga, and cyberpunk. Of course there are many who admire both traditional and contemporary Japan and this shows us just how diverse Japanese culture is. It also shows us that Japan...
Originally hailing from the U.S., architect Naomi Pollock is also a writer. She is the Special International Correspondent for Architectural Record, and has written for numerous publications in the U.S. and Japan including the Chicago Tribune, Dwell, Interior Design, the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, Jutakutokushu, and Wallpaper magazine.
The Japanese seem to excel at creating a whole philosophy out of the simplest ideas, or a formal ritual out of an everyday activity. They are meticulous in their work, and their ability to focus on the smallest detail is admirable. These traits are at the root of arts like the tea ceremony, and ikebana flower arrangement. The simple act of folding paper in origami also becomes...
Kyoto, the old capital of Japan for over 1000 years, houses some of the most elegant and exquisite temples and gardens in the country. Only by walking around the city will you have a chance to discover some beautiful examples by yourself, both big and small, private and public. In this article we present five of the most famous and highly appraised gardens in Kyoto. In reverse order, these are...
The owners of this old house in Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture, were looking for an expert to renovate their property. Watching a before-and-after style Japanese TV show, which also features top Japanese architects, they discovered Wataru Hasegawa's work.
Kyoto based architect, Hasegawa and his office WHATS: Wataru Hasegawa Architect Studio, has worked on many renovation projects and new residential and commercial...
