Video: Uto Elementary School / CAt
This minimalist elementary school, located in Kumamoto and designed by Japanese architects Kazuhiro Kojima and Kazuko Akamatsu (CAt), is designed to seamlessly connect the indoor and outdoor space. Within the building, individual classrooms and spaces are loosely formed by L-shaped walls that feature foldable doors and flexible components. An abundance of courtyards and airy walkways are just some of the highlights, along with a wood deck activity space found on top of the roof.
Video via JA+U.
Yashima Project / Shogo Iwata

Architects: Shogo Iwata
Location: Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan
Site Area: 1,685.26 sqm
Total Floor Area: 1,566.39 sqm
Area: 933.57 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Shigeo Ogawa
Mountain Research / General Design

Architects: General Design
Location: Minamisaku District, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Architect: Shin Ohori
Area: 261 sqm
Year: 2008
Photographs: Daici Ano
House in Sakurajyosui / General Design

Architects: General Design
Location: Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Architect: Shin Ohori
Area: 121 sqm
Year: 2008
Photographs: Daici Ano
Rooms that Follow the Scenery / ON design partners

Architects: ON design partners
Location: Karuizawa Saku-gun, Nagano, Japan
Design Team: Osamu Nishida, Takanori Ineyama
Structure Design: Mato Structure Design Office
Construction: Daiichi Construction
Site Area: 1018.39 sqm
Total Floor Area: 95.19 sqm
Area: 115.66 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of ON design partners
Sowa Unit / Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio

Architects: Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio
Location: Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Architect In Charge: Kensuke Watanabe, Yuji Mukaiyama
Area: 288.84 sqm
Year: 2010
Photographs: Koichi Torimura
Grow / APOLLO Architects & Associates

Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Structural Engineer: Kenta Masaki
Mechanical Engineer: Zenei Shimada
Area: 124.33 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Masao Nishikawa
Sony Building “Crystal Aqua Trees” Installation / Torafu Architects

Installed in Sony Square in Tokyo and on display until January 14, the ‘Crystal Aqua Trees’ is a crystal work of art inspired by the concept of a fountain that can be seen as a spray of water as well as a Christmas tree. Designed by Torafu Architects, the project was inspired by the Trevi fountain in Rome, the “Ai no Izumi” (Fountain of Love) charity drive, which has been held by Sony every year since 1968. For this edition, the architects proposed a new embodiment as an interactive installation. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Ito Jakuchu Inspired’ Pavilion 2nd Prize Winning Proposal / Đordje Alfirević and Sanja Simonović

The competition for the ‘Ito Jakuchu Inspire’ pavilion is focused on the great celebration throughout the world of Ito Jakuchu’s work, a milestone in Japanese art history. Taking on a symbolic meaning, the competition effectively corresponds to a cultural phase of our existence. Designed by architects Đordje Alfirević and Sanja Simonović, this second prize winning proposal creates a dematerialization of boundaries between Ito Jakuchu’s perception of the reality in which he lived and the appearance of our modern world. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Calling a Plan a Map / ON design partners

Architects: ON design partners
Location: Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Design Team: Osamu Nishida, Erika Nakagawa
Construction: Eiko Construction
Structure: Akira Suzuki / Asa
Site Area: 648.52 sqm
Total Floor Area: 100.97 sqm
Area: 107.3 sqm
Photographs: Koichi Torimura
Iron Gallery / Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio

Architects: Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio
Location: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Contractor: Eiger Co. Ltd, Noriaki Fujii, Koji Misaki
Structure: K. Nakata & Associates, Katsuo Nakata, Takashi Takamizawa
Steel Fabrication: Tokyo Kentetsu, Kenji Sasaki, Shuuji Matsushima, Masamoto Kondo
Client: Mori Building Co. Ltd
Area: 97.33 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of Kensuke Watanabe Architecture Studio
What Categorize the City and Me / ON design partners

Architects: ON design partners
Location: Chofu, Tokio, Japan
Design Team: Osamu Nishida, Erika Nakagawa
Construction: ao-archi
Site Area: 98.47 sqm
Total Floor Area: 95.36 sqm
Area: 37.07 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of ON design partners
Dent / APOLLO Architects & Associates

Architects: APOLLO Architects & Associates
Location: Aoba Ward, Japan
Structural Engineer: Kenta Masaki
Mechanical Engineer: Zenei Shimada
Area: 123.07 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Masao Nishikawa
Seashore Shell House / Takeshi Hirobe Architects

Architects: Takeshi Hirobe Architects
Location: Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Structural Engineer: Akira Ouchi /S FORM
Constructor: Kenichi Kataoka/KATAOKAKEN KOMUTEN
Area: 73.03 sqm
Year: 2008
Photographs: Courtesy of Takeshi Hirobe Architects
Amida House / Kochi Architect’s Studio

Architects: Kochi Architect’s Studio
Location: Gotenba, Shizuoka, Japan
Architect In Charge: Kazuyasu Kochi
Constractor: Kouei Koumuten
Area: 115.5 sqm
Year: 2011
Photographs: Kazuyasu Kochi, Daici Ano
BMA Project / Ryuichi Sasaki + Sasaki Architecture

Architects: Ryuichi Sasaki + Sasaki Architecture
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Architects: Ryuichi Sasaki, Kazuya Nishimura
Producer: Komura Agency
Structure: Takushi Nakata / Rhythm Design
Contrctor: Shin Corporation
Area: 262.71 sqm
Year: 2011
Photographs: Ryota Atarashi
4 Colors / Kochi Architect’s Studio

Architects: Kochi Architect’s Studio
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Architects: Kazuyasu Kochi, Mana Kochi
Constractor: Imai Kensetsu
Area: 177.8 sqm
Year: 2006
Photographs: Daici Ano, Kazuyasu Kochi
Yokohama Apartment / ON design partners

Architects: ON design partners
Location: Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Design Team: Osamu Nishida, Erika Nakagawa
Site Area: 140.61 sqm
Total Floor Area: 152.05 sqm
Area: 83.44 sqm
Photographs: Koichi Torimura
Broken Pitched Roof House / NKS Architects

Architects: NKS Architects
Location: Nakatsu, Oita, Japan
Architect In Charge: Noriko + Kaoru Suehiro
Structure: RC+S, 1 story
Area: 211.27 sqm
Year: 2010
Photographs: Courtesy of NKS Architects
House Komazawa Park / miCo.

Architects: miCo.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Architects: Mizuki Imamura + Isao Shinohara
Structural Engineer: Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio
Site Area: 96.37 sqm
Building Area: 46.46 sqm
Total Floor Area: 72.14 sqm
Year: 2011
Photographs: Takashi Suo, Courtesy of miCo., Koichi Torimura
A Life With Large Opening / ON design partners

Architects: ON design partners
Location: Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Construction: Shinei
Structure: Ryuji Tabata/ASD
Site Area: 30.07 sqm
Total Floor Area: 50.70 sqm
Area: 18.03 sqm
Photographs: Ikunori Yamamoto








































































