Daylight House by Takeshi Hosaka Architects; photo by Koji Fujii Nacasa&Partners Inc

Some 29 square skylights have been incorporated in the roof of this small single family house providing its residents with an abundance of unobstructed natural light in spite of house’s densely built-up surroundings. Located in Japan’s second largest city, Yokohama, the 85-square-meters single-storey development has been realised in 2011 by an award-winning Japanese architectural practice Takeshi Hosaka Architects. (more…)

Casalgrande Old House by Kengo Kuma and Associates; photo by Marco Introini

Following his large-scale porcelain ‘Casalgrande Ceramic Cloud’ installation, the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has recently realised this conversion of a typical, brick farmhouse into a light and airy exhibition space and an archive for the Italian ceramics manufacturer Casalgrande Padana. Completed in July 2011, the 470-square-meters building is located on company’s production site, in the countryside near the norther Italian city of Reggio Emilia. (more…)

'Denq' table lamp by Toshiyuki Kita for Oluce

Last year’s Compasso d’Oro laureate and creator of the 1980′s eyebrow-raising ‘Wink’ chaise longue, the much-acclaimed Japanese designer Toshiyuki Kita has collaborated with the Italian lighting brand Oluce on design of this minimalist table lamp. Resembling an oversized lightbulb, ‘Denq’ is made of opalescent, opaque blown glass and a lacquered metal base with chromium-plated laser cut upper base disc. The lamp is the first collaborative project of the Japanese designer and Oluce and it was presented during last year’s Euroluce fair in Milan. (more…)

Karuizawa Museum Complex by Yasui Hideo Atelier; photo by Nacasa & Partners inc

Drawing their inspiration from the traditional Japanese art of paper folding origami, the Tokyo-based practice Yasui Hideo Atelier have designed this recently-completed museum complex in the city of Karuizawa, Nagano prefecture. The deconstructed, multifaceted, 423.51-square-meters two-storey building is supported by a steel structure while its characteristic sharp edges and sky-piercing spikes have been developed in titanium and glass. (more…)

YSY House by AUAU; photo by Yoshimura Masaya

The Japanese architect Akitoshi Ukai and his practice AUAU have realised this two-storey, detached house located in Seto, Aichi Prefecture. Characterised by a slanted wrap-like façade made of fibre-reinforced plastic, the minimalist structure has been designed to accomodate a young family of four. (more…)

Fold by APOLLO Architects & Associates; photo by Masao Nishikawa

The Japanese architectural practice APOLLO Architects & Associates have recently realised this multifaceted single-family house located in a densely built-up area of Yamatocho Nakano ward, Tokyo. The slanting, two-storey, 60-square-meters building is formed of two contrasting space concepts: an entirely enclosed ground-floor and a spacious, fully exposed first-floor.

(more…)

'Luukku' chair by Satoshi Ohtaki

It might very well be due to our recent obsession with this book, but we couldn’t help but notice that this curiously-detailed ‘Luukku’ chair created by the Japanese-born architect, designer and the Aalto University School of Engineering student Satoshi Ohtaki is in fact, smiling.

(more…)

The intricate joinery of the 'Mouri' series

The Tokyo-based designer Masanao Furukawa of Rends Design Works practice has developed this series of three-legged, wooden furniture whose unorthodox, labyrinthine joinery was inspired by a Japanese maxim: ’though one arrow can easily be broken, three arrows banded together cannot.’ The collection, which was presented earlier this year at Milan’s Salone Satellite, encompasses three stools of varying heights, a table and a twig-like coat stand. (more…)