MetaFilter posts tagged with Japan and architecture

Living in a Washing Machine.

steamynachos — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:41:34 -0800

The Nakagin Capsule Tower (slyt) is a prime example of the uniquely Japanese architecture known as "Metabolism", as well as the main inspiration for Tokyo's famous Capsule Hotels. The most unique feature of this building style is the interchangeability of the individual units, supposedly to allow it to adapt to changes in density and lifestyle (although that plan hasn't exactly panned out). Local residents are calling for the tower to be demolished, although a group of architects are trying to preserve it as an architectural landmark Previously.

The Illusiveness of the Entirely Useless

zonkers — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:15:20 -0800

So, there's a Japanese artistic concept called a Thomasson. In short, they are "defunct and useless objects, attached to someone's property and aesthetically maintained." But a more nuanced explanation involves artist Akasegawa Genpei, baseball player Gary Thomasson, and a whole generation of Japanese kids who wandered around Tokyo, looking for architectural abnormalities. Now that the book has found its way to English, American readers are submitting some pretty fascinating discoveries of their own . An extremely influential writer and visual artist, Akasegawa Gempei started as a founding member of the neo-dada group Hi Red Center in the 60s, staging a lot of public performances. When Tokyo launched a series of "Let's Clean Up Our City" campaigns for the upcoming Olympics, Akasegawa and company took it a step further by dressing in lab coats and cleaning single cobblestones with rubbing alcohol and toothbrushes. As a sculptor, Akasegawa became interested in making things with money. This eventually earned him a counterfeiting charge, and he appeared in court to defend his work as "art"--the formal opposite of currency. Lacking a stringent legal definition of art, Akasegawa called on his friends from Hi Red Center to provide "expert testimony." This involved Nakanishi Natsuyuki appearing with his body covered in closepins and other such performances, and quickly turned the trial into a performance piece. Akasegawa demanded that all of his friends' "testimonies" be treated as proper evidence, and the court had no choice but to carefully photograph and document each of these performances. The result is retroactively known as "The 1000-Yen Trial Incident," and is one of the 20th century's most seminal works of Japanese art.

Mount Fuji's Tower of Doom Cousin

Burhanistan — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:53:59 -0800

The X-Seed 4000 is currently the Earth's tallest proposed structure. The project is currently on hold, due to a funding shortage^, but adventures in Arcology will probably continue.

Japanese Urban Ruins PhotoGalleries

jonson — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:04:37 -0800

Amazing collection of several galleries full of Japanese "urban ruins" photos, including abandoned amusement parks, refineries, apartment blocks, hospitals, schools, bowling alleys, & much more, including Battleship Island, the (previously posted) abandoned coal mining island off the coast of Nagasaki. Via.

Quicktime VR photos of Tokyo

carter — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:30:52 -0800

Quicktime VR photos of Tokyo - tunnels - night - large drains - buildings - etc. The nav is mainly in Japanese but the "VR List" link, lower right, seems to be the main index.

the Site of Reversible Destiny

dhruva — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:20:19 -0800

The Site of Reversible Destiny is an "experience park" conceived on the theme of encountering the unexpected. By guiding visitors through various unexpected experiences as they walk through its component areas, the Site offers them opportunities to rethink their physical and spiritual orientation to the world. [via]

Meiji period architecture

carter — Sat, 14 May 2005 17:37:39 -0800

Meiji architecture The Meiji Mura is an open-air museum with many examples of Japanese Meiji-period architecture from between the mid 19th century and the early decades of the 20th. The buildings, often rescued from the threat of demolition, show how Japan developed its own distinctive modern architectural style during this period.

I never think of the future - it comes soon enough. - Einstein

anastasiav — Mon, 08 Dec 2003 08:21:34 -0800

Mitsubishi Virtual Design Museum - look at the past, present, and future of industrial design in Japan. :: via Yesterday's Tomorrows::

Artserve

hama7 — Sat, 29 Nov 2003 20:42:46 -0800

Welcome to ArtServe: Art & Architecture mainly from the Mediterranean Basin and Japan.

sikander — Sat, 01 Jun 2002 09:30:42 -0800

Check out this soccer/baseball stadium. You can fold the baseball field and roll in the soccer one. Animation here. Amazing.

Urban Exploration, Japanese-style:

ryanshepard — Thu, 31 Jan 2002 11:32:51 -0800

Urban Exploration, Japanese-style: lavishly beautiful site documenting Japan's modern ruins, via gmtPlus9.