Prabha in Sanskrit, the ancient language of Hindu philosophy and classical Indian scriptures, means light or brilliance. It is interesting that this quaint ossuary hall, located on the grounds of Myorenji Temple in the city of Oita, Japan, is named using the oldest language in the world. Perhaps it is because the ‘purest’ meaning of […]
The site is located along the approach to a renowned shrine and on the edge of a plateau in the Yushima district of Tokyo. In recent years, buildings in the area have been replaced by apartment complexes, which rapidly transformed the area’s spatial character. There were a few challenges within the site context that significantly […]
Read More… from Tenjincho Place: Finding beauty in ‘imperfection’
“The architecture resembles a bridge or a temple. Watching the people sitting on the porch enjoying their onigiri (rice balls), it feels like this architecture is a reminder of something important that modern Japan has lost.” In light of the above poignant observation by the architects, one begins to see this longhouse project in a […]
This project serves as the headquarters of a game production company in Tokyo. According to the design team, the office aims to become “a place for the highest level of creation that captivates fans worldwide and supports the foundation of the game production process”. As almost all employees will be engaged in creative operations, the […]
Read More… from MONOSPINAL: Bringing ‘video game’ architecture to life
It has been reported that the birth rate in Japan is the lowest it has ever recorded, continuing a steadily decreasing trend over at least two decades. This is a confluence of many factors—decreasing marriages, increasing social security costs and delayed post-pandemic economic recovery are amongst them. Data from 2021 indicates that there are under […]
Read More… from Meeting Societal Needs: Kitakami Health & Childcare Support Complex
The city of Fujiyoshida in Japan sits at the foot of Mount Fuji with hilly terrains as its panoramic backdrop. Here, the 10,000-square-metre site of this nursery is lush with trees and lakes. This led the owner to have an educational philosophy of “play to the fullest in the nature of Fujiyoshida—in rain or snow, […]
Read More… from ‘Cabin’ in the forest: UB Kindergarten and Nursery
Amidst the barrage of virtual commerce, physical spaces have been offering increasingly personal and meaningful spatial experiences. This renovation of Tamagawa Takashimaya, a fifty-year-old shopping centre, transforms its spacious atrium into a cross between a library and an art gallery. It is designed as an intimate enclave that resembles a park in some places and […]
Read More… from Lights, books and greenery at Tamagawa Takashimaya Grand Patio
This small two-storey, wood-frame house is tucked into a downtown residential neighbourhood in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The clients—a couple with minimalist taste and few superfluous possessions—wanted a private home on the compact lot, one that prioritised a spacious atmosphere over rooms that were physically large. The lot abuts the north side of a narrow road and […]
In Hokkaido Prefecture—the northernmost region of Japan—this hotel was designed as the first hybrid high-rise timber structure of its kind, aiming to reduce use of emission-heavy concrete and place a spotlight on the local wood industry. Beyond simply providing accommodation, the hotel makes a space that welcomes the community, showcases local talent and facilitates an […]
Read More… from Japan’s first hybrid timber high-rise hotel: Royal Park Canvas Sapporo Odori Park
In an era when online shopping is increasingly common, this eyewear store in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture rethinks the retail experience to offer something more than a usual commercial space. The nature of suburban shops is to be visited via car by customers with a particular goal in mind, as opposed to downtown retail where […]
Read More… from JINS PARK Maebashi: A fresh vision for suburban retail
Located in the heart of Tokyo, the Uchisaiwaicho 1-Chome district is seen as a significant area of the city, one that provides key infrastructural services and is home to a hotel seen as the nation’s state guesthouse. Plans for its development have been underway since 2011 when the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Chiyoda City and the […]
Read More… from A ‘citizen co-creation’ model for Uchisaiwaicho 1-Chome District Development
Known for the Art Tower Mito designed by Arata Isozaki, the city of Mito will be getting a new civic centre, a complex planned for a site adjacent to the tower. While the Art Tower is a complex of galleries and small halls, each dedicated to art, music or theatre—the new multipurpose centre, with its […]
