Tokyo Dreaming
You say Japanese Architecture to anyone and they will instantly think of at least one of the following:
1. Sliding paper walls,
2. Tatami mats,
3. Slippers
4. Bonsai Trees everywhere
5. Tadao Ando/Shigeru Ban etc etc
6. All the rest of the stuff you picked up from watching O-shin in the 80s or Memoirs of a Geisha
(AHhahah! I know! When I read that again I went Oshin!? Oshin!!)
Now, that may be quite an unfair couple points but, for many, stereotypes are what cultures/cities/empires are made of. I'm no exception. The first time I met a person from Tahiti I expected her to be dark skinned with dark hair and eyes, wearing a grass skirt offering me mangoes (okay a little stretch but I'm trying to illustrate a point here) when in fact I came face to face with an elegant lady, with perfect porcelin skin dressed not in natures finest but a well cut tailored jacket speaking to me in perfect English with a thick french accent.
Anyway, Japanese architecture. How can you hate it? Its simple, straight to the point, poetic, practical. However, we often tend to think of it in terms of the Japanese house with its rock garden, quiet contemplative spaces and earthy materials like wood and paper. This would be miles away from your saturday afternoon shopping escapade down Oxford Street/Orchard Road/(insert local shopping district here). The next couple of photos are two of my fave shops/boutiques designed in Japan (not necessarily by Japanese architects)that are a testament to that Japanese brilliance we love so much, applied to a building type that addresses the issues between fashion and architecture. Enjoy!
Toyo Ito's Tods. I couldn't find any decent interior shots online and my only copies of them are in an Architectural Review I believe is in Brunei. The exterior plays second fiddle to the interiors because from the photos it just looks like you're standing in some huge abstract tree-like building surrounded by Tod's lovely leather goods. Heavenly? I thought so too.
Herzong de Meuron's famous Prada store. Who cares about the handbags?! Look at what they're sitting in!! Okay, this one isn't by a Japanese architect, but Herzog de Meuron's take on the Japanese style of boutique is spot on. This one is older than Toyo Ito's, so you can see the influence. Still, it remains one of the ones to beat.
Images: www.arcspace.com
Want to look at more? Go on to Arcspace to check more out. As for me I've got to scoot - loads to do! xxw
1. Sliding paper walls,
2. Tatami mats,
3. Slippers
4. Bonsai Trees everywhere
5. Tadao Ando/Shigeru Ban etc etc
6. All the rest of the stuff you picked up from watching O-shin in the 80s or Memoirs of a Geisha
(AHhahah! I know! When I read that again I went Oshin!? Oshin!!)
Now, that may be quite an unfair couple points but, for many, stereotypes are what cultures/cities/empires are made of. I'm no exception. The first time I met a person from Tahiti I expected her to be dark skinned with dark hair and eyes, wearing a grass skirt offering me mangoes (okay a little stretch but I'm trying to illustrate a point here) when in fact I came face to face with an elegant lady, with perfect porcelin skin dressed not in natures finest but a well cut tailored jacket speaking to me in perfect English with a thick french accent.
Anyway, Japanese architecture. How can you hate it? Its simple, straight to the point, poetic, practical. However, we often tend to think of it in terms of the Japanese house with its rock garden, quiet contemplative spaces and earthy materials like wood and paper. This would be miles away from your saturday afternoon shopping escapade down Oxford Street/Orchard Road/(insert local shopping district here). The next couple of photos are two of my fave shops/boutiques designed in Japan (not necessarily by Japanese architects)that are a testament to that Japanese brilliance we love so much, applied to a building type that addresses the issues between fashion and architecture. Enjoy!
Toyo Ito's Tods. I couldn't find any decent interior shots online and my only copies of them are in an Architectural Review I believe is in Brunei. The exterior plays second fiddle to the interiors because from the photos it just looks like you're standing in some huge abstract tree-like building surrounded by Tod's lovely leather goods. Heavenly? I thought so too.
Herzong de Meuron's famous Prada store. Who cares about the handbags?! Look at what they're sitting in!! Okay, this one isn't by a Japanese architect, but Herzog de Meuron's take on the Japanese style of boutique is spot on. This one is older than Toyo Ito's, so you can see the influence. Still, it remains one of the ones to beat.
Images: www.arcspace.com
Want to look at more? Go on to Arcspace to check more out. As for me I've got to scoot - loads to do! xxw
posted by Widarchitect at 2:36 am
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