Architecture

Japanese architecture and design

Traditional Japanese Roof Styles Explained

Japanese roof styles explained: kirizuma, yosemune, irimoya, hogyo — materials, the eave curve, and how to read a traditional building.

What is an engawa? The veranda mediating inside and outside in Japanese architecture — its role in spatial philosophy and daily life.

What is tatami? The woven rush mat flooring of traditional Japan — construction, sizing, room counting, and care.

What is a shoji screen? The translucent paper partition of Japanese architecture — materials, construction, and why light matters.

Japanese interior design principles: ma, wabi-sabi, natural materials, and the philosophy behind shoin and sukiya aesthetics.

What is a machiya? The traditional Kyoto townhouse — architecture, the tori-niwa corridor, garden, and preservation today.