The rural town of Ome is lined with a beautiful forest to the north and east, and views of serene mountains can be seen to the south. With such dynamic landscape also comes certain weather effects.
The single story structure hugs the side of a road in between a mountain and the forest from which the beams were harvested. Surrounded by tall trees, the workshop looks more like a cozy log cabin than a
In the same way that we have backup batteries for our cameras and computers, the Japanese government has recently unveiled plans to develop a whole new city that will act as a backup for Tokyo in the
The neighborhood of Shiga prefecture is a mixed residential and industrial area, which also has a thriving nightlife scene. The odd shaped lot was left abandoned for years without a buyer, or city
The designers placed the small garden adjacent to the Oh family's small, naturally-finished home, where window slices permit a soft infusion of daylight and ensure constant views of the new garden.
The main façade of the house is based on warehouse architecture (called Kura in Japanese) - a familiar sight in the Japanese town where House M is built. The dark blue siding envelops the back and roof
Because they're typically made of fabric and wire that's difficult to take apart and repurpose, used bras are among the hardest garments to recycle. But for women who are concerned about the environment
Triangular-shaped structures are not uncommon in Japan since space on the island is very limited. Although they look tiny and restricted on the outside, these homes are often incredibly spacious, and the
Sunken below street level, the house is like many homes in Yokohama: crammed in between a variety of other forgettable structures and poorly lit. A total of 29 skylights fixes that by absolutely
The inflatable concert hall is a giant amorphous amphitheater that seats 500 to 700 spectators. Rising out of a long tunnel entranceway, the stretchy, bright red skin encases the oval interior. A ramped
As you may recall, the Fish Arch project was led by a group of students taking Yasushi Ikeda’s lab at Keio University. The group was asked to contribute to the Obon Festival by doing an installation.
Clad in charred timber panels and finished off in Japanese cedar, this little hut has a negligible footprint. Indeed, it has only one room and a sheltered outdoor terrace that opens into the surrounding
Earlier this year, the Japanese government considered a bill that would require renewable energy to be integrated into the consumer energy grid. Initially proposed to lower greenhouse gas emissions, the
In May FEED Projects and the Little Cupcake Bakeshop in New York City launched a shop-within-a-shop to feed hungry children and support disaster-relief efforts in Japan. FEED, which is well known for
The simple layout of the home is achieved with an H-shaped floorplan. On the ground floor, there is a bathroom, a laundry, storage, 2 bedrooms, the kitchen and a traditional tatami room all joined
The 93 sq m (1,001 sq ft), two-story home sits on a corner in a residential area. The owners wanted a small garden and yard for their children, but also desired privacy. The translucent tarpaulin, which
Along with its raised earth floor that connects the home's three volumes, timber on the interior and exterior gives this home its natural feel. Daylighting floods through a tall window, somtimes giving
The goal of the renovation was to reintroduce the concept of nature alongside a wide and very busy street. Additionally, the clients hoped to improve the commercial appeal of the building through a more
Softbank Corporation President Masayoshi Son is rolling out a plan to turn Japan's 1.3 million acres of unused rice paddies into solar farms. Energy issues in Japan have been under heightened scrutiny
The building has no halls and no walls. Rooms are divided by arches and the various classrooms - which branch off from the center - are color-coordinated to help students find their way. Philosophically,
You didn't think a little heat could faze those resourceful Japanese did you? Well, okay, a lot of heat. While most of us westerners over here are sweating up a storm even with air conditioning, many
Like many cities along the eastern seaboard of Japan affected by the tsunami, Kesennuma is struggling. While there are lots of fish still out swimming in the ocean waiting to be caught, the town's
The Japanese government discovered this week that 1,256 head of cattle have been fed hay poisoned with the radioactive material cesium. The hay, which was grown in the Fukushima prefecture, was given to
Disaster zones typically feature unlevel ground, which makes it even more challenging to prepare housing relief quickly. But Shigeru Ban's shipping containers stacked on top of each other in a
The compact home is located in a friendly neighborhood with some long-time residents, so the new owners wanted to make sure they built a home that was open and inviting. Building codes also let them build
Set next to a rice field, the home enjoys views out over farmland and is very privately situated. Organized in a U-shape around a courtyard and projected by the garage on the side facing the road, the
Four months after an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan triggering the worst nuclear energy crisis since Chernobyl, the country's Prime Minister has finally addressed Japan's energy future. In a statement
Inside, the designers separated the core volume from the rest of the building, again to enable future renovations. This core is built from a new building material comprised of recycled paper and plastic.
The flooring in the home is made from rosewood, which is sustainable if sourced from either Bolivia or Brazil, and skylights in the tilted roofs usher in just the right amount of daylight. At night, the
Comprised of a series of six matching cabins joined in alternating elevations, the shelter is made from timber and wrapped in plastic sheeting. Although the latter is not the most sustainable material to
