Owl Koban Chiba: A friendly Police Box Japanese koban—small neighborhood police stations found on street corners are a ubiquitous sight across the country. While most koban adhere to simple and practical architectural styles, Chiba’s owl-shaped koban stands out for its unique design. Positioned beneath the elevated tracks of the Chiba Urban Monorail, the brightly colored […]
The Owl of Chiba: Unique Koban Architecture in Tokyo Read More »
Exterior Architecture: Sculptural Steel and Monumental Curves St. Mary’s Cathedral (東京カテドラル聖マリア大聖堂) in Tokyo, designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, stands as one of the most influential expressions of modern sacred architecture. Completed in 1964, the cathedral redefined what a contemporary church could be, replacing traditional stone ornament with sculptural concrete forms and shimmering
Steel and Sacred Space: Kenzo Tange’s Stunning St. Mary’s Cathedral Read More »
Nakagin Capsule Tower: Architecture, Design, and Legacy The Nakagin Capsule Tower was a defining icon of the Metabolist architecture movement. Completed in 1972 and designed by Kisho Kurokawa, the tower envisioned modular, futuristic urban living. Although demolished in 2022, it remains a symbol of experimental Japanese architecture and micro-living innovation. Kisho Kurokawa and the Metabolist
Nakagin Capsule Tower: Tokyo’s lost Metabolist Icon Read More »
An Underground Cathedral of Engineering The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, often called G-Cans Tokyo, is a vast underground flood-control system built by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Built on the outskirts in northern Tokyo, it protects millions of residents by capturing and redirecting dangerous stormwater before it reaches the city.
G-Cans Tokyo: Visiting Japan’s Massive Underground Flood Chamber Read More »
Arimaston Building: Keisuke Oka’s Hand‑Built Concrete Home Redefines Craft Over a decade ago, on a small plot in central Tokyo, architect Keisuke Oka began building a unique hand-crafted concrete home for himself. Entirely constructed by hand, the Arimasuton Building evokes the sculptural complexity of Gaudi but with a raw, brutalist twist. The building stands out
The Arimaston Building, Tokyo: A Hand Built Concrete Home by Keisuke Oka Read More »
An Architectural Concept That Rejects Traditional Functionality Tokyo is a city celebrated for its efficiency, density, and architectural precision — a place where nearly every building is designed with maximum practicality in mind. Yet tucked into the heart of the capital’s Chiyoda district is an unusual architectural experiment: Kioi Seido. A five-storey structure commissioned by
Kioi Seido: Hiroshi Naito’s ‘Building with No Purpose’ Read More »
