Abstract

★Japan holds design sources that captivate architects around the globe
★Using photographs of culturally significant traditional architecture, this book explores the beauty of Japanese spatial divisions — from engawa verandas to noren curtains.
★It features works and “boundary theories” (spatial philosophies) by three of Japan’s leading architects: Kengo Kuma, Sou Fujimoto, and Junya Ishigami.
★★With English translation included.

Japan has long cultivated a culture that values the in-between — spaces that do not completely separate inside and outside, such as the engawa or noren. These methods and ideas have drawn keen attention from the global architectural community, which is constantly seeking innovative and enriching spatial compositions. This volume suggests the possibilities of the “Japanese sensibility” as a potential global standard for the architecture of the future.Supervised by Kengo Kuma, with photographs by Kiyoshi Takai, a photographer known for his long-standing work documenting traditional houses.

Contents
•Toward an Era of Japanese “Relational Architecture” — Kengo Kuma
Chapter 1: Ambiguous Boundaries Between Inside and Outside
Chapter 2: Soft Boundaries
Chapter 3: Boundaries Between the Sacred and the Profane, Hare and Ke
Chapter 4: The Boundary of Mitate (Reinterpretation)
Chapter 5: Boundaries in the Landscape
Chapter 6: Contemporary Boundaries

Author’s Information

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