Japanese Architecture

Traditional Japanese House

In this video, Shelley Clarke talks about her traditional Japanese house which she purchased and restored along with her personal experiences in her rural Japanese community.

As you see the house, you will notice several tatami mats on the floors. In Japan, tatami mats are a common way to talk about the size of a room. There are slight regional differences for the size of tatami mats but they are around 6' x 3' in size. Rooms in Japan are typically smaller than rooms in the United States, especially the Midwest.

The sliding doors separating spaces are called shoji or fusuma. Shoji are typically made from rice paper which makes them translucent. Fusuma are made of thicker paper and are more opaque.

In traditional Japanese houses, another important space is the engawa, which is like a porch - it is a transitional space in between the inside and the outside of the living space.

Zen Buddhist Temple

Ryoanji Temple. 15th century.

Hojo at Ryoanji. Photo by Steven Zucker. CC BY-SA 2.0.

In this video, Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris talk about the famous rock garden at Ryoanji, or the Temple of the Dragon at Peace in Kyoto, Japan.

In this article, we can learn more about Ryoanji Temple.

For a relatively long discussion of Japanese architecture, you can watch this talk by architect Dr. Henry Tsang.

In this video, we learn about a specific technique for thatching a roof in Japan.

In this video, we learn about tile roofing in Japan.

In this video, we get a good idea for how Japanese woodworkers construct impressive structures without using nails.

Kengo Kuma

As a contemporary architect, Kengo Kuma has broken away from the designs that he created for clients in the 1980s, when Japan had a big economic boom and built more Modern structures. In recent years, he has focused more attention on the responsibilities of architects to the environment, using local materials, and to local craft traditions and local economies.

In this video, we get to hear Kuma talk a little about his philosophy.

On this webpage, you can see several images of Kengo Kuma's 2007 Tea House made from Tenara fabric. You can also read about this unique structure by clicking on links on the webpage.

On this webpage, you can see several images of Kengo Kuma's Asakusa Culture and Tourism Center, including the building's layout.