Modern Japanese Homes: 12 Choices

Author: Ma Weidong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: The term "mikihiki" () in Japanese refers to an independent, residential building form, which can be either a home for personal living or a villa for vacation purposes. In Japan, this type of residential structure is very common, and designing mikihiki is almost a must for the growth of all Japanese architects. Whether it's Tadao Ando, Toyo Ito, or Kazuyo Sejima, they all first gained success in mikihiki design before establishing their positions in the Japanese architectural field. Mikihiki holds a very special significance in the hearts of Japanese architects. As Mr. Kengo Kuma candidly points out in the preface of this book, the 21st century is the century of housing, and I deeply agree with this sentiment. Architecture originates from housing, and after long-term development, especially after the clamor of the industrial era, architecture has returned to housing. Of course, it is not simply a return to the housing form itself, but a return to the original fundamental needs of architecture. For this reason, I am very eager to introduce Japanese mikihiki to architects around the world. During the writing process of this book, I received strong support from the 12 architects featured in it, and I would like to express my gratitude to them. I would also like to specially thank Mr. Kengo Kuma for taking the time to write the preface for this book amidst his busy schedule. I must also thank our editorial team for their hard work, which made this book possible.