Category Archives: Architecture

Koji Tsutsui is one of the younger generation of Japanese architects who are receiving attention internationally. This is a movie from one of his latest projects – “InBetween House”. It is a residence he has designed in Karuizawa, Japan.

dezeen.com featured “Kyoto Silk” by Keiichi Hayashi.  Hayashi converted the traditional Japanese house in Kyoto into a cosmetics store. Read more: dezeen.com Photos: Yoshiyuki Hirai

“Architecture as a piece of nature” is an exhibition  focused on three leading figures of the new generation in the Japanese architecture scene: Sou Fujimoto, Junya Ishigami, and Akihisa Hirata.  It will be held during the Milan Design Week (the Salone Internazionale del Mobile), starting on April 12, 2011. More details are available here.

Architect Yasutaka Yoshimura started a project “EX-CONTAINER PROJECT“. It converts shipping containers into houses to help those who were hit by the earthquake in Japan. The advantage of this project is that almost all the production process is done outside Japan, so it is less expensive, and also easier to ship as it is originally a shipping container.  They are asking for donations for this project. ——————————–   Please donate to the specific bank account via direct deposit. We welcome any amount (minimum 1000 yen).  Please notify after completing the payment through e-mail for us to be able to update you how your contributions will be used. Thank you!! This … Continue reading →

Architect Shigeru Ban is asking for donations in order to build paper partitions for evacuees taking shelter in the earthquake. Here is the information from Shigeru Ban Architects. ————- On March 11, 2011, 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Pacific coast of Tohoku, JAPAN. We are currently preparing to deploy simple partitions for evacuees taking shelter at gymnasiums in the Tohoku region.From now on, for people taking shelter in these sites, it is necessary to avoid distress from the lack of privacy and high density. We ask for your support of this important disaster relief endeavor. Donations made to the following account are very much appreciated. Bank: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, … Continue reading →

One of the most destructive earthquakes in the history hit Japan. As it was widely broadcast,  some areas in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures (Northern Japan) were completely destroyed. There are thousands of people still missing. We hope that more people will be saved, and Japan will recover to normality soon. Architecture in Japan is mixed with older wooden buildings, and newer buildings.  Older buildings which were built before 1990s have been heavily affected by earthquakes, but buildings constructed after year 2000 are considered one of the strongest in the world against earthquakes. Especially for skyscrapers, one of the most sophisticated technologies has been used. Here are some of the “earthquake proof” … Continue reading →

Tadao Ando has designed a house in Sri Lanka, and the construction has been completed. Ando’s signature concrete is present here, but it’s been said that he had more freedom as fewer constraints existed in this site. Ando never visited the site before the construction. He sent his collaborators Kiyoshi Aoki and Yukio Tanaka to Sri Lanka, who worked closely with local architect office PWA Architects. It was built for Belgian entrepreneur Pierre Pringiers. Via: baunetz.de, photographs by Edmund Sumner http://www.edmundsumner.co.uk

The Victoria and Albert Museum seeks a design team to create a new building to house its exhibition galleries, with a new courtyard and entrance onto Exhibition Road. Japanese architect office Jun Aoki & Associates participated in the competition and here are the images of their proposal. Proposals by other architect offices are available here.

Toyo Ito architectural museum is due to open this summer. It will not just exhibit Ito’s past work, but also function as an educational institution for young architects and the cultural center for the city of Imabari. Some images of the construction are available here.image via: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jutok/sets/72157626095342340/