Category — Architecture

Photos by Daici Ano / Torafu Architects | click to enlarge

Last month architecture duo Torafu Architects (Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro) completed a PR Room in Tokyo for the global sports brand Nike. Comprised of 3 different spaces – entrance,  initiative and stock space – the architects utilized aluminum fins with interchangeable graphics in order to create an flexible environment where display walls coexist with large graphic branding.

Such great attention to detail: the sneaker sole pattern carved into the flooring. Check out all our stories on Torafu.

Source:  Torafu’s website

The title pretty much says it all. Here are my favorite Japanese residential homes of 2011 that, for one reason or another, did not make it to the blog. They’re in no particular order. Enjoy!

1. Villa in Hayama

designed by Kazuyo Sejima

2. WAREHOUSE

Designed by Shinichi Ogawa

3. Minna no Ie

Designed by Mamm-Design

4. Static Quarry

Designed by Ikimono Architects

5. Outside In

Designed by Takeshi Hosoka

6. House S

Designed by Keiji Ashizawa

images courtesy japan-architects | click to enlarge

Currently on display at the LivingDesign Center Ozone is a gigantic house-like styrofoam structure designed by architect Makoto Tanijiri of Suppose Design Office. Dubbed “You Make The Rule” [sic], the cavernous structure has seemingly random objects placed throughout its nooks and crannies. Accordingly, it’s intended to question our preconceived notions of household objects, as well as their respective names and intended uses.

But instead of providing any further commentary, Tanijiri encourages the viewerto make their own rules – interacting and interpreting the piece themselves. Therefore, I will happily end this blog post right here.
You Make The Rule is on display through Jan 31, 2012.

source: japan-architects

architectural model for Ryue Nishizawa’s House & Garden

When this architectural model surfaced back in 2006, as beautiful as it was, it was hard to visualize what kind of home would actually take root in Tokyo. And after several years of silence it appeared the model was just another overly-ambitious architectural venture that got shelved away. Well, finally images of iconic architect Ryue Nishizawa’s House & Garden have appeared. And I’m happy to report – it’s real.

Photos by Iwan Bann | click to enlarge

With all its green and glory, the 4-story structure lacks many things that most people require in a home. For one thing, the glaring omission of a façade, which is likely to cause onlookers to mistake it for a vertical garden rather than a private residence. There are no interior walls either. The architect instead opted for floor-to-ceiling windows, curtains and planters to serve is elusive boundaries between spaces.

On one of the floors there is even a layer of thin soil that replaces actual flooring, further blurring the transition between inside and out.

Ryue Nishizawa is one half of the Pritzker-winning architectural duo SANAA. While Nishizawa was working on his solo project Garden & Home, his partner Kazuyo Sejima was working on her own solo project: Shibaura House.

Source: domus

Photos by Toshiyuki Yano | click to enlarge

Kimihiko Okada has recently put the finishing touches on Toda House, a private residence in Hiroshima that resembles a continuous swirling coil pot. The structure is perched above ground like a bird’s nest, giving birth to some breathtaking views of the Inland Sea, creating a sense of security and also distancing the home from common ground-level disturbances. The home itself is comprised a a single continuous slab that spirals around once, is penetrated by a staircase, then spirals around again on elevated level, creating one long room. Not only does it create a dynamic space, but it also produces a lawn as well as leaves opportunities for further expanding the slab in the future.

I love the eclectic styling of the interior as well! It’s so rare to see something other than minimal concrete. Nice!

source: architecturephoto

images courtesy T-Site | click to enlarge

Last week a new retail village quietly opened in the Daikanyama neighborhood of Tokyo. Dubbed Daikanyama T-Site, it’s operated by CCC (Culture, Convenience Club), the parent company of media rental giant Tsutaya. And by “quietly” I’m not referring to physical size – at 12000 sq meters and 3 buildings the place is huge – but rather an odd discreetness that is rare when it comes to such commercial endeavors.

For example, there was no opening ceremony. And I couldn’t find a single press release from the company announcing it. There isn’t even a large sign on site advertising its own presence. The location is also odd. Situated roughly 5 minutes away from Daikanyama station, it can’t compete with the convenience of ekimae (front-of-the-station) retail outlets. And yet it’s regal self assurance is inspiring – so grounded and rounded as if knowing she is held securely in the palm of the neighborhood.

This is perhaps, in part, due to the considered design, which is the work of Tokyo-based architects Klein Dytham. I love the tessellated Ts that adorn the facades of the main buildings. And the interiors are rounded-out by some fantastic signage by Kenya Hara.

signage by Kenya Hara

Although the main space is Tsutaya Books, it’s complemented by a carefully curated ensemble of hobby/lifestyle shops that include a bar and a café as well as a camera and bicycle shop. And upon closer examination, the whole concept reveals some pretty drastic deviations from any preconceived notion of what a bookstore is. For example, the glaring omission of comic books and study guides, the pinnacle of student culture, replaced by now-defunct magazine titles like Heibon Punch and Taiyo.

It’s as if they went out of their way to say, “sorry teenagers and anyone under 35. There’s nothing here for you. Now move along.”

“Pen Wall” stationary store

“Ive Place” bar

the music floor

art displayed in the space

they even have an amazing looking kids room

In many ways the new concept is a return to their roots, which date back to 1983. The company opted to shrink their hip western character name “Tsutaya” and replace it with the original Japanese “蔦谷.” Whether their strategy and execution to target the middle-age and senior baby-boomers will play out is yet to be seen. However, it seems to me they’re on the right track. CCC’s main customers are currently between age 20 – 30. And with a shrinking population, the company was only destined to relive the 2 ways Ernest Hemingway describes a man going broke: “gradually then suddenly.”

I love this dedicated dog parking

source: @jeansnow pimping the hell out of it on twitter

images courtesy atelier sano | click to enlarge 

I’m kind of in love with this house by Takahiko Sano of Atelier Sano. I love the cubic structure, the large windows and how it takes in both the cityscape and the mountainous greenery of its surroundings. As it turns out, the location – the foot of a mountain – was just perfect for creating an ambiguous buffer between the outdoors and indoors.

Completed back in May, Enyama House is the architect’s latest work. Photos were just recently released.

I’ve been seeing a lot of awesome architecture coming out of Hokkaido recently and it’s making me want to move there!

Source: Atelier Sano’s blog

images courtesy Akihisa Hirata | click to enlarge

Earlier this year a new library opened up in Tokyo’s Bunkyo-ward. Designed by architect Akihisa Hirata, Yoshioka Library is an architecture nerd’s dream come true – an archive of roughly 5000 titles of architecture magazines ranging from popular to obscure. The collection includes Japanese magazines, foreign magazines and even up-and-coming titles like C3 (Korea) and Art4D (Thailand). If you’ve read our previous posts on Hirata you’ll know that he is often inspired by trees – a form he finds highly symbolic because of their intrinsic abilities to offer shade and create resting places for all living things.

The library is often considered a place of rest, concentration or contemplation. And in Hirata’s library, the tree takes root as shelving, extending up through the trunk and branches where the magazines act as leaves. One of the results of this structure is that every issue’s cover, rather than squeezed together with only the binding exposed, is facing outward, making them easy to spot.

Yoshioka Library is a 5-minute walk from Yushima station. It’s situated on the 1st floor of the Shinkenchiku headquarters and  open to the public Wed, Thur and Fri., from 1:30pm – 6:00pm.

source: Akihisa Hirata | Yoshioka Bunko

photos by Takumi Ota | click to enlarge

Japanese architect Akihisa Hirata has created the Bloomberg Pavillion, an experimental art space that sits outside the main entrance of the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT). Having just opened its doors about 1 month ago, the geometric structure, which resembles a salt crystal science experiment, is slated to become an exhibition and performance space for young artists.

Taking a page from the book of Toyo Ito, Hirata’s previous employer of 7 years, the architect looked to nature in its organic essence for inspiration. The result is what can be called a unity of mathematics and nature – a structure made entirely  from a combination of isosceles triangles that appear to branch out and grow like a tree (or a salt crystal experiment).

Check out our previous stories on Akihisa Hirata and you will see his obsession with geometric patterns in architecture.

source: domus

images courtesy TTIC | click to enlarge

Last week I tweeted about Sou Fujimoto winning a competition to design an urban oasis in Taiwan. While the video in the link was astounding, it didn’t quite do justice to Fujimoto’s bold and daring proposal. But images have now surfaced and are quite telling of why I was blown away.

At an estimated cost of about 1 billion USD, “21st Century Oasis,” the winning entry in the Taiwan Tower International Competition, is on track to land itself in the top 10 most expensive buildings ever built. Inspired by the trunk of the Taiwanese banyan tree, the ornate structural system will encompass a museum and exhibition spaces, as well as support a green rooftop floating 300 meters above the city.

Sou Fujimoto is no stranger to extravagant design. But in this case he seems to have gone above and beyond what I would have expected. With the rest of the global economy stalling, it’s a project that probably only can get green-lighted in China (but only in Taiwan would a Japanese architect be able to have his name on it).

Some examples of the different lighting schemes the broad facade can provide.

source: CTS News | TTIC | designboom