So rich and unique is traditional Japanese architecture that it's nearly impossible to improve upon. Yet contemporary Japanese designers and architects keep finding fresh approaches to refurbish and take inspiration from the ways of old. Whether it's a pristinely preserved traditional house or a sleek modern apartment, the best Japanese homes share a love of cleverly designed spaces and warm materials like wood, brick, and bamboo.
From a thatched roof farmhouse occupied by a Zen priest to
Tadao Ando's experimental 4x4 House, from
Shigeru Ban's conceptual Shutter House to a beautiful domestic homage to bamboo, this elegant compendium traverses the
multifaceted landscape of Japanese living today.
Enriched by
170 brand new, unpublished photographs, this edition takes you on breathtaking journey through the Land of the Rising Sun--complete with a
list of addresses, should you wish to undertake this journey to Japan's most fascinating inns and homes yourself.
An insightful glossary of key terms, such as
tatami,
shoji, and
noren, will also help you come to grips with all elements of Japan's
unique aesthetic of Eastern minimalism.
