#2 August 14, 2017
Welcome to our newsletter! Today I would like to introduce four of our recent projects – Japan House in Sao Paulo, Tea House in Vancouver, a hotel in Oshiage, Tokyo, and a renovation in Tsukiji, Tokyo. Following the article on Japan House, I am also sending you my writing on the 1954 Japanese Pavilion in Sao Paulo designed by Sutemi Horiguchi.
I had an opportunity to visit the pavilion when I was working on the Japan House project and found Horiguchi’s work quite inspiring. This essay is available at Japan House: Sao Paulo and on the website of Sociedade Brasileira de Cultura Japanesa e Assitencia Social (in Japanese and Portuguese).
ProjectsJapan House São Paulo
The Japan House Sao Paulo opened as the first case of the “Japan House Project,” led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that aims to promote various aspects of Japanese culture in the world. The building was formerly a bank located at Paulista Avenue, which is Sao Paulo’s city center. We repaired it … Read MoreNewsJapanese Pavilion in São Paulo1954年の1月から1年間、ブラジルのサンパウロ市で、サンパウロ市制400年記念の万国博覧会が開かれた。会場計画の中心人物は、すでにモダニズムの鬼才として、世界に名を知られていたブラジル建築界のエース、オスカー・ニーマイヤー（1907-2012）であり、彼の力強い造型が、180万 m2 のイビラブエラ公園全体で、華々しく展開した。 一方、日本館を任されたのは、和風建築の巨匠、堀口捨巳（1895～1984）であった。片やコンクリートの彫刻家、片や繊細な木造。これほど極端に対照的な組み合わせは考えられない。そして、できあがった日本館も、いかにも堀口らしい繊細な木造建築であった。堀口の設計した建築群の中で … Read More
ProjectsVancouver Tea House (Westbank Teahouse)
Read MoreProjectsONE@Tokyo
ONE@Tokyo is a new type of hotel situated near Tokyo Sky Tree in the dense urban district of Oshiage. Formerly one of the liveliest districts in Tokyo, Oshiage developed quickly due to light manufacturing industry. To recall the rather rough but still approachable quality of this area, we employed e … Read MoreProjectsTsukiji KY Building
The building is located further down from Kabuki Theatre in Ginza, Tokyo. We renovated an old compound building that stands across the old part of Tsukiji Fish Market into a lively, warm and humane space that could match the atmosphere of Tsukiji. We totally renewed its monotonous façade with horizo … Read More