Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa designed the love concrete home the ‘House in Aoyama’. The house features louvers inspired by the louvers on the townhouses in Kyoto. These louvres were incorporated to create a sense of privacy in the home. As its name suggests, the house is located in the central Aoyama area and is built for a family with a child and two dogs. Since the home is located at a busy intersection, it was constructed to offer maximum privacy to the residents, and hence concrete was selected as the material of choice
“We had to choose a material resilient to acoustic disruption and vibration for the urban context,” said studio founder Keiji Ashizawa “Considering the need for a basement, rooftop, and balcony, we picked concrete as the best fit.”
The entrance of the home is covered by tall wooden louvers, which shade it and offer privacy. The home is shielded from the neighbors and other passerby. A tropical hardwood was used to construct the louvers. Itauba wood was selected, to create a sleek, slender, and stylish look. Itauba is also known for its water resistance, and strength, making it a good fit for the louvers.
“Louvres create subtle seclusion within the urban setting with a soft ambiance, often seen in traditional townhouses in Kyoto,” Ashizawa said. “They serve both as a privacy screen and light filter.”
As you enter the home, you notice the exposed concrete structure, which is amped with a bunch of different finishes – ribbed ceilings, and washed and blasted walls. The concrete beautifully contrasts with the insulated exterior. The various finishes in the home create an interesting palette, with the ribbed textures delivering acoustic enhancement in the living room. The first and third floors include the bedroom, while the living and dining rooms are placed on the second floor. The different stories are connected via a winding wooden staircase, which perfectly pairs up with the wooden furniture to create an organic and warm ambience.
The home also includes space for the clients’ art collection, perfectly placed against neutral walls. It also features a skylight to offer access to natural light throughout the day, softly illuminating the home.
Acclaimed architecture studio MAD recently designed the Ephemeral Bubble – an installation that looks like a bubble being blown by a century-old wooden house! It is designed for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale in Japan. Tucked away in the Murono Village in the Japanese countryside, the bubble is made using a PVC membrane, and is a component of the old house called China House Huayuan. The home is utilized to display Chinese art and culture.
The Ephemeral Bubble for the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale was designed to open “a dialogue with the ancient Japanese countryside”, the studio said. “This design adds a temporary, flexible space that mimics the lightness and translucence of breathing air,” they added. The large bubble is connected to the home, and it rises and expands creating a space that can be utilized for performances or ceremonies. It features a “biomorphic” design which is inspired by nature. The installation also intends to encourage spiritual exploration.
“This concept of bubbles also introduces a playful and interactive space, making the experiential installation ideal for emotive and spiritual exploration,” MAD said. “This approach emphasizes the importance of engagement in design.”
During the evenings, the inside of the bubble lights up forming a mesmerizing lantern-like effect. Visitors can look out through the blurred walls, although the colors and shapes of the outside world are hardly visible. This creates the ambiance of “soft light”. The installation also helped to upgrade the historic wooden house. It was designed in such an interesting manner that it looks as if the house created itself.
“Picture our century-old house drifting off to sleep, gently blowing bubbles as it dreams,” said architect Ma Yansong. “This fusion of virtual and tangible elements, combining the old and the new, brings new life into the ancient building,” MAD concluded.
When you think of wood, the color that immediately comes to mind is brown since that’s what most of us have seen in the trees near our abodes or even when we travel. But it’s not the only color that we can extract from it, specifically from various species of forest trees. With 2//3 of Japan covered with trees and a lot of these forests remaining unharvested and unmaintained, it’s interesting to see what sustainable products can be made out of these trees.
Designer Name: Playfool
Forest Crayons is a project that uses the pigments extracted from various recycled forest trees and mixes them with other sustainable ingredients to turn them into crayons. Each one has a different shade that is based on the species of the recycled tree as well as how it was cultivated and grown. For example, you get a light green color for magnolia and a deep turquoise of fungus stained wood.
The pigments extracted are mixed with wood, rice wax, and rice oil to produce the different crayons. There are ten crayons available in the Forest Crayons set: Bayberry, Bogwood, Cedar, Chinaberry, Cybress, Hazenoki, Katsura, Kaizuka, Magnolia, and Zelkova. Some names should be familiar to most people but there are species that are native to Japan and some that have Japanese names.
Forest Crayons are actually supported by the Japanese Forest Agency and aside from producing these from recycled trees, they also want to “breathe new life into Japanese wood” so that people will have a new appreciation for the country’s forests. I would prefer the triangular shape of the crayons shown in the product shots but it makes sense of course to have them in the traditional crayon shape for functional reasons.
Japanese culture and history have always been a source of inspiration for the entire design world. We see Japan-inspired designs in almost every aspect of our lives, so why not in the world of LEGO?! Japanese culture has managed to inspire many talented LEGO builders around the world, resulting in beautiful creations that perfectly capture the essence and spirit of Japan. From a bowl of steaming hot ramen to the traditional Shogun Armour, LEGO master builders have managed to capture them all in the form of exquisite and intricately built LEGO constructions. Dive in!
1. LEGO Ramen Bowl
Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl is made using LEGO bricks and it looks super realistic! “The model was designed, as a fully customizable construction, thanks to a wide selection of ingredients,” says LEGO builder Micdud. The ramen bowl includes a “bamboo” roll-out pad, a stunning “ceramic” bowl made with intricate details, as well as chopsticks that are hidden in a decorated “paper” wrapping. It also includes a special chirirenge spoon!
2. LEGO Cherry Blossom
These lovely LEGO Cherry Blossoms are designed to get you ready for Spring! The LEGO build features two buildable cherry blossom twigs that can you mix and match to create some pretty white and pink blooms. You need to build the flowers with the 438 pieces that come with the set, to build two twigs that measure up to 14 inches.
3. The Great Wave of Kanagawa
The Great Wave of Kanagawa is one of the most iconic paintings in the art world. It is a lovely and significant hallmark of Japan’s Ukioy-e art movement, and LEGO Art’s interpretation of it includes plastic blocks and a brick count of 1810 pieces. The build also includes a special brick that holds artist Hokusai’s signature! It makes use of multiple dot-shaped bricks that give the painting a pointillism effect.
4. LEGO Sushi Board
If you’re a sushi lover, then this LEGO Sushi Board is a dream come true for you! Made using 1348 pieces, this sushi board is accompanied by matching chopsticks, 6 types of sushi, ginger, wasabi, as well as a matching bowl of soy sauce. The objects aren’t attached to the board, and they can be moved around and arranged, creating an interactive and adorable sushi experience. The sushi includes – one regular and one vegetarian maki roll, a regular uramaki roll, a shrimp nigiri, a salmon nigiri, and an egg nigiri!
5. LEGO Toyota GR Supra
To celebrate the iconic Toyota GR Supra’s 35th anniversary a few years ago, LEGO Japan, LEGOLAND Japan, and Toyota Gazoo Racing created a life-size replica of the sports car. The LEGO version was wider than the original automotive and weighed more as well – almost 4156 pounds. The car was almost entirely made of LEGO bricks, which was truly a commendable and impressive sight, whether you’re a LEGO fan or not!
6. LEGO Girls In Kimonos
Inspired by a summer trip to Japan, LEGO builder The DriXx built two girls in kimonos and traditional Japanese accessories using LEGO bricks! One of the kimonos was embossed with cherry blossoms, while the other one was inspired by cranes and flowers. He wanted to capture the sight of people wearing yukatas or summer kimonos during the summer festival, with everyone walking around cheerfully. He used flower pieces and rounded tiles for the intricate and beautiful patterning of the kimonos.
7. LEGO Eventide
This 2486-piece LEGO mosaic signifies eventide- 宵 (you), which is a Kanji character symbolic of the hours of the evening until midnight. The character also represents the eve of an event, particularly festivals. The LEGO build was created to celebrate the many flower festivals that are held in Japan, and the beautiful flower motif blossoming from the setting sun is meant to signify the growing excitement and merriment on the eve of festivals.
8. LEGO Japanese Koi Fish Pond
LEGO builder ToboPro created a LEGO koi fish pond with koi that swims around if you rotate the handle. Koi fish have a lot of significant value and meaning in Japanese culture. They represent perseverance, luck, love, and prosperity, and ToboPro wanted to translate these meaningful concepts into a tangible build made using 1970 pieces. The pond is decorated with bamboo and other greenery.
9. LEGO Shogun Armour
This beautiful ornate shogun design by Mohamed Marei artfully uses a balance of LEGO Technic and System parts. Each LEGO piece has been chosen to beautifully replicate the plated nature of the ancient Japanese armor, creating a design that is divine looking. Mohamed used all types of gold 1×1 round plates in this build. Tread pieces were also used around the arms above the elbow and at the base of the warrior’s kusazuri.
10. LEGO Soba Noodle Bowl
Build by LEGO builder John Snyder this bowl of soba noodles looks so yummy and appealing, it almost looks real! John wanted to build radish slices, and slowly and steadily he created a whole bowl of noodles. He inserted bicycle wheels into inverted radar dishes to create the radish slices. The chopsticks are made from LEGO as well, and the color balancing is perfect, really making the entire dish stand out.
Dubbed the Building Frame of the House, this home in Tokyo is a unique adaptable space for both living and working. It features stepped living areas framed by boardmarked concrete walls. It is designed by IGArchitects to function as “one big room”.
“[The clients] have a vague boundary between their private and work life, they were imagining a house where they can work anywhere and where they can sense the presence of each other wherever in the house,” said founder Masato Igarashi. “With such lifestyle, rather than have small spaces for compact living, the house was designed to have a large volume and scale that makes various interactions between inside and outside space,” he added.
The home’s central space is designed to be as open as possible, with the studio organizing the home’s floors as irregularly stepped mezzanine layers. The various floors are connected via a black-metal staircase and a ladder. At the rear of the home, there is a ground-floor kitchen and first-floor bathroom. The bedrooms and the living spaces are located at the front. A massive bookcase is nestled against the southern wall.
The side walls of the home have been left quite blank, with sections of full-height glazing located at the front of the home, which offer a generous amount of natural light. “The floors are divided to make it difficult to see the interior from the outside, which is treated like a wall,” said Igarashi. “The way the space is used overlaps, responding to the residents’ lifestyle,” he continued. “The floors can turn into a seat, table, shelf, ceiling, or bed.”
The boardmarked concrete structures within the home are exposed, which are teamed up with wooden floors and shelving, and metal countertops in the kitchen, creating an interesting contrast. “We selected materials that would develop their own flavor as they age, and we wanted to bring out the texture and strength of the materials and their shades in the space,” said Igarashi. “Since the site is too small to create a garden, the interior and exterior are treated equally, and the materials are unified inside and out.”
In the past couple of years, Japanese design philosophy and principles have been discovered by the rest of us, and since then they have slowly but surely taken over the world. There’s something about products with a Japanese touch that instantly makes you feel at ease. They have a sense of warmth and tranquility to them, one that spreads in the space that they’re placed into. There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life. And we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs – from furniture to stationery! Whether you’re looking for a minimal folding knife or the latest G-Shock watch with Japanese elements – these beautifully designed products are all you need to introduce some Japanese zen and peace into your daily life!
1. The Levitating Pen
Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, making the pen rigid and easy to hold and creating a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!
Why is it noteworthy?
When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!
What we like
The pen is super fun to interact with
Quite easy to hold and write with
Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster
What we dislike
The pen has smooth edges that may cause it to roll off when kept on a curved surface
2. The Tri Light
Designed by the design brand Tokio, the Tri Light is a modular sculptural light that is inspired by the Japanese shoji. The Japanese shoji is a door, window, or room divider in the form of a paper screen, that is quite popularly used in traditional Japanese architecture.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tri light features an interesting honeycomb-like structure that directly drew inspiration from a shoji. “Inspired by the Japanese shoji concept, Tri Light is the combination of old traditions and modern technology – we set out to design something that would be modern, classical, and timeless at the same time,” said Tokio.
What we like
The light is built using milled and anodized aluminum triangles that were designed to be expanded and configured in different configurations and customizations
What we dislike
It’s a pretty space-consuming design, not suitable for smaller homes
There aren’t different color options to choose from
3. Oku Knife
Scottish artist and metal worker Kathleen Reilly designed the ‘Oku Knife’. Inspired by Japanese table settings, the Oku knife features a rather intriguing handle that is folded 90 degrees from its blade. The design was informed by chopstick resets.
Why is it noteworthy?
Oku features a unique folded shape that lets the handle be placed on a surface, with the blade sitting perpendicularly away from that particular surface. You can even rest the knife’s blade along the edge of a cutting board or plate.
What we like
The knife can be hooked onto the rim of a plate, creating intimacy between the two objects whilst improving cleanliness and maintaining stability
What we dislike
The design may seem pointless or unnecessary to some people
4. Makita’s Microwave
It’s surprising that portable microwaves aren’t a thing yet but the Japanese power tool maker now has one for those who like to go camping or are at construction sites. The cordless microwave uses the cordless XTGT system to help you heat your meals and snacks when you’re on the go.
Why is it noteworthy?
It has 40-volt rechargeable batteries and can use up to 500 watts for eight minutes and then 350 watts after that to save energy. If you’re worried about safety, there are things in place so it won’t blast anything when it’s not in use. It also deactivates when it’s tilted or when the door is opened.
What we like
When the batteries are fully charged, it will be able to warm up 11 meals or 20 drinks
It also has a USB port so you can also juice up your smartphone or a gadget
What we dislike
If you’re warming up frozen meals, it might take up more energy so you’ll be able to reheat fewer meals
5. The Spectrum Workstation Round ST160
Studio Geckeler Michels designed the Spectrum Workstation Round ST160 for Karimoku New Standard. Karimoku New Standard is an offshoot of Karimoku. It was founded to easily combine the brand’s craftsmanship with design studios around the world. The studio designed the minimal workstation to bring a semblance of calm and tranquility to our hectic workspaces.
Why is it noteworthy?
The station perfectly embodies Japanese craftsmanship and German design, in an attempt to merge stunning aesthetics with efficiency and functionality. It has been crafted from solid Japanese oak wood and is designed to support a flexible and dynamic style of working.
What we like
Works well for both home and corporate offices
The workstation can seat up to six people quite comfortably, so it’s also great to sit together and interact and collaborate
What we dislike
The rounded edges of the table makes it difficult to differentiate personal space in the workplace
6. The Japanese Cloud Dock
With a two-part design that snaps together right around your existing Switch dock, this rather whimsical 3D print from Holoprops elevates your gaming console in an aesthetic sense!
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to make it look like your Switch is nestled amongst Japanese clouds, Holoprops’ dock really turns your piece of tech into beautiful sculptural home decor. Moreover, the model is also carefully designed to make sure it doesn’t obstruct the airflow of the Switch while it’s docked or the cables at the back.
What we like
The Japanese Cloud Dock takes inspiration from the ‘Kumo’, or the Japanese cloud motifs often found in arts, prints, and even in traditional clothing
What we dislike
It isn’t readily available
7. The Jakobsson Lamps
Japanese lighting brand Yamagiwa and late Swedish designer Hans-Agne Jakobsson partnered up to create a collection of stunning minimal lamps that cast a light “reminiscent of a bonfire”. They are called the Jakobsson lamps, and they feature light shades that have been crafted from concentric brands of naturally dried pine wood.
Why is it noteworthy?
The lamps beautifully merge Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, and in turn, pay an ode to the utilization of wood, and warm-toned colors that give a cozy and inviting appeal to the products. In fact, the lamps are manufactured by Japanese artisans. The artisans artfully dry and bend the pine into intriguing shapes, while paying special attention to the growth rings found in timber.
What we like
A beautiful infusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design
Comes in three interesting variations
What we dislike
The lamp comes with a fixed height
8. The Furoshiki Denim Bag
Blue Ainery’s Furoshiki denim bag was created by using the traditional dyeing and weaving methods of Japan. The compact fashion storage accessory pays tribute to the history and tradition of Japan, which many still follow and apply even today. The bag is an example of how the hard-earned lessons of the past can be used to make something beautiful and sustainable in the present.
Why is it noteworthy?
Almost everything about the Furoshiki denim bag is a nod to Japan’s past culture, design, and fashion. The term “furoshiki” itself is a reference to the traditional Japanese wrapping of cloths for goods, bento boxes, and informal gifts. When worn as a bag, the Furoshiki looks more like an “Azuma Fukuro” that predated today’s modern tote bags by about four centuries
What we like
It has a minimalist charm to it
Its uncomplicated shape leaves enough room for plenty of items inside
Utilizes traditional Japanese methods and techniques
What we dislike
The design might seem basic and old-fashioned to some
9 The G-B001 Line
G-Shock recently added the G-B001 line to their collection. It features the double bezel Capsule Tough features, and these removable bezels are crafted from stainless steel and urethane. It also boasts a resin case and a sturdy structure that has been reinforced with Carbon Core Guard.
Why is it noteworthy?
The capsule design is inspired by those toy capsules that you get in vending machines in Japan you never know what is inside them until you actually open them.
What we like
The detachable bezels for all these models of the G-B001 let you play around with the watch’s look
What we dislike
It’s only available in Japan for now
10. The Japanese Paper Memo Block
The Japanese paper Memo Block comes in to provide a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.
Why is it noteworthy?
There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.
What we like
Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper
Uses high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs
What we dislike
At first glance, it seems like an ordinary notepad
In the past couple of years, Japanese design philosophy and principles have been discovered by the rest of us, and since then they have slowly but surely taken over the world. There’s something about products with a Japanese touch that instantly makes you feel at ease. They have a sense of warmth and tranquility to them, one that spreads in the space that they’re placed into. There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life. And we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs – from wearing aids to stationery! Whether you’re looking for a lovely levitating pen or a Japanese rubber gear that helps people relearn to walk after an accident– these beautifully designed products are all you need to introduce some Japanese functionality, practicality, and peace into your daily life!
1. The Levitating Pen 3.0
The Levitating Pen 3.0 does complete justice to its name. The pen seems to be suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle and is designed to be a luxurious and grand writing instrument that features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and also super easy to hold.
Why is it noteworthy?
When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!
What we like
The pen is super fun to interact with
Relatively easy to hold and write with
Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster
What we dislike
We wonder how ergonomic or comfortable the pen would be to use for longer durations of time
2. The Lightbone Floor Lamp
Designed by FÄRG & BLANCHE for Oblure, the Lightbone Floor Lamp is inspired by a bamboo forest on a trip to Japan, and features an interesting and unique focal point – the connection point between the spherical glass globes and the wooden sections, which also gave birth to the name of the lamp.
Why is it noteworthy?
You can place the lamp next to your sofa, or place multiple Lightbone Floor Lamps to create a cluster of lamps that look like a miniature and imitation Japanese bamboo forest.
What we like
Is available in custom color options, so you can create a lamp or group of lamps that perfectly match the interior decor style of your home
What we dislike
No information on how to replace the light bulbs once they die out and need to be changed
3. Mecricco Catch
Designed by Plus, these interesting elastic page-turning aids are called Mecricco Catch, and they help you turn your paper products with ease. The page-turning aids have an outer rib, that allows you to hold the paper firmly, while the inner rib ensures that your fingers don’t slip while you’re flipping.
Why is it noteworthy?
The elastic page-turning aids feature a concave curve at the bottom, that lets you freely move your fingers as you flip. It has been equipped with holes as well, to provide ventilation, so your finger has some room to breathe.
What we like
This is useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper
What we dislike
If you have gone entirely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need
4. Tri Light
This stunning lighting fixture is called the Tri Light, and is a modular sculptural light inspired by the Japanese shoji. What is the Japanese Shoji? It is a door, window, or room divider in the form of a paper screen, used quite popularly in traditional Japanese architecture.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tri light features an interesting honeycomb-like structure that directly drew inspiration from a shoji. It is designed to be expanded and configured in different configurations and customizations.
What we like
The lighting design can be divided into multiple zones, allowing each zone to be configured to radiate different light strengths and temperatures
What we dislike
No personal customization options in terms of materials and colors
Unsuitable for homes and spaces with smaller footprints
5. The Futto
Designed by Yoshihiro Yamada, the Futto is a rather odd-looking yet ingenious wearable rubber gear that helps your muscles relearn to walk after an injury, or for the elderly.
Why is it noteworthy?
It “replaces” the muscles that you use for walking and strengthens the weak points that may need some support, as guided by a specialist like a physiotherapist. It is not a replacement for rehab exercises but it will be able to help strengthen your walking muscles.
What we like
Helps to “straighten” your posture by creating abdominal pressure from the corset, while the rubber stabilizes the lower limbs and stretches the spine
Not heavy to wear
What we dislike
Can seem weird to onlookers if taken out of context
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is a historic shrine in Fukuoka in southern Japan. The shrine is 1100 years old, and recently Sou Fujimoto designed a temporary new hall for it. However, the hall will only be erect for three years, although it does look right out of a Japanese fairy tale. The minimal black hall features a floating forest on an oval roof, a flying plum tree, and sacred textiles that can only be seen by a deity.
The new hall has a rather modern take on traditional shrine architecture, especially with the elliptical floating forest on the roof. The aforementioned sacred textiles have been designed by the Japanese fashion brand Mame Kurogouchi, and crafted by generations-old Kyoto artisans. They are placed center stage, and the inner sides cant be viewed by human eyes, only by the shrine’s deity.
“With this project, we were faced with the important question of how modern architecture can respond to a history of 1,100 years,” said Fujimoto. “We thought about the rich nature that surrounds Dazaifu Tenmangu and the traditions of the shrine – and approached the design with a conscious desire to pass these onto the future. We started this over two years ago. It was a challenge creating a temporary building that is both traditional and modern, while also continuing into the future. It’s very simple but it carries a long, important history.” he continued.
The clean matte black steel hall opens up on all three sides. Bits of traditional shrine architecture has been incorporated within the structure, with a contemporary touch – such as the gentle curvature of its louvered black wood ceiling, inspired by the shrine’s taruki rafters, which create “spatial solemnity” according to Fujimoto. The roof features a circular skylight that allows natural light to stream into the hall, hitting the floor in front of the visitors, as they pray.
Explaining the floating forest, Fujimoto adds: “Its concept derives from the legend of the flying plum tree. Plum trees and other plants seem to fly here and dance, creating the roof of the deity’s dwelling. They will change color as the climate and seasons shift.” The floating forest adds a stunning green element to the hall, functioning not only as an elaborate green roof but also as a wonderful mythical component.
If you work in an industry where flipping pages and other papers is still an every day thing, then you have probably experienced paper cuts and finger fatigue among other things. You would think that in a highly digital society like Japan that shouldn’t be a problem. But alas, it is still indeed a common enough issue for people like bank tellers, proofreaders, clerks who deal with a lot of paperwork, and probably those who work in stationery companies (and we know Japan has a lot of those). We know that it’s a problem because we get products like these page-turning aids.
Designer: Plus
The elastic page-turning aids from Plus are called Mecricco Catch and they fulfill the sole purpose letting you turn paper products easily. The outer rib part of the device is able to hold the paper firmly while the inner ribs helps prevent your fingers from slipping while you’re flipping. There is also a concave curve at the bottom of the aid that lets you freely move your finger as you flip. You even get some holes that provide ventilation so your finger will have room to breathe.
This is also useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper. There is also a shorter version of the Mecricco Catch that will allow you to type on a keyboard if you need to take a break from your paper-counting task. There seems to be several colors available so you can choose one that matches your outfit for the day or even contrast with your nail color of the moment. The design of the page-turning aids are simple enough but you know that it is practical and each tiny part has a purpose.
If you have gone completely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need. But if your work involves a lot of paper or if you read a lot of paper books, then it’s something that you probably will need. For now it seems to be available in Japan only but you’ll probably eventually see it in your friendly Japanese store soon.
Nestled in the hilly residential area in Nagoya City, Japan, is a small cozy home called the House in Yagoto. The house is located on a slope shrouded with greenery and nature. The home is perched above a steep incline, with a covering of trees surrounding it, and a forest located on its northern edge. The architects designed the home in a manner that could tackle this challenging topography, and keep costs and the impact on the environment at a minimum.
Designer: Airhouse
Airhouse’s design plan for the home was building a construction foundation of only four steel columns, which reduces the building’s ground contact area with the use of cantilevering reinforced concrete floor. The floor holds a dark greyish cedar-clad home that seems to subtly float in the air. The cantilevered floor is the star feature of the construction, and it functions as the foundation for the home. This gives the impression that the House of Yagoto is intriguingly hovering in the air, and rising above the green slope.
Since the color selected for the exterior of the home was a dark one, this creates an interesting contrast to its green and natural surroundings. The cedar-clad exterior gives the home the visual of a tranquil mountain villa. The design strategies used by the team ensured minimal disturbance to the landscape and eliminated the need to build a base in the ground and put up large walls. “As a result, by thinking about the foundation of the building, we were able to build a house economically even on a sloping land, and we believe that we were able to create a rich living environment that floats in the forest,” said the Japanese architecture studio.
The interiors of the home are quite open and free-flowing. You are invited to a peaceful living space that shares a serene connection to nature. In fact, you feel deeply connected to the surrounding nature and feel immersed in it. The airy interior is marked by natural materials and open spaces, that create an ongoing fluid conversation with the trees around the home. The intention behind the home was to allow nature to effortlessly and seamlessly mix and interweave with the living space.
