Contemporary Japanese Architecture. 40th Ed

Japanese architecture has long been praised for its extravagance, sustainability, and seemingly limitless creativity – no less than eight Japanese architects have been awarded the Pritzker Prize. Since the experimental constructions of Expo '70 in Osaka, Japan has held a key position in global architecture, manifested in the masterful concrete structures of Tadao Ando or the more sustainable approaches of builders like Kengo Kuma, Shigeru Ban, and Kazuyo Sejima. Younger generations have further developed their work in harmony with the environment, building traditions, and available resources, always considering the unique situation of the country: high population density, an efficient economy, and tragic disasters such as earthquakes. Thus, Japanese architecture fundamentally differs from European and American architecture in its ability to accept that the world is as unpredictable as the reflections of light in Sejima's museum building in Kanazawa.

This book is based on the XL edition and presents 39 Japanese architects with a total of 55 projects, from Tadao Ando's Shanghai Poly Theater, SANAA's Grace Farms, Fumihiko Maki's 4 World Trade Center to Takashi Suo's sustainable dental practice. A detailed essay illustrates that an interplay of past, present, and future forms the foundation of contemporary Japanese architecture, in a way that is unparalleled in any other country.

About the series: TASCHEN is 40! Since we began our work as cultural treasure hunters in 1980, TASCHEN has stood for affordable, high-quality, and sometimes audacious publications. Whether art or body culture – we enable bookworms around the world to build their own libraries at unbeatable prices. Today we celebrate our 40th birthday and remain true to our motto: The 40th Anniversary Edition gathers some of the top titles.