The Japanese House Since 1945

The definitive overview of and ultimate resource on the iconic architect-designed houses built in Japan from 1945 to the present.

Imagine a rowhouse whose courtyard separates the kitchen from the bedroom. Or a tiny, triangular tower of rooms stacked one above another. Quirky, experimental and utterly fascinating, the houses produced in Japan since the end of the Second World War are among the most exceptional in the world, but they are also family homes. The Japanese House Since 1945 is a cohesive chronology of iconic Japanese houses, presenting 100 architect-designed homes to show developments in form, material, architectural expression and family living over almost eight decades.

Unparalleled in their conceptual purity, many Japanese houses have become icons at home as well as abroad. Presented with clear prose and accompanied by compelling photographs and drawings, the book features 100 houses, divided among nine chapters and organized by decade. In addition to acquainting the reader with individual homes, the book illuminates the social, technological, geographic and historical factors behind these epoch-making houses. Developments over the period are underscored by the visual presentation as it evolves from monochrome to colour and from hand-drawn to digital. Decade lead-ins set the historical context for each chapter, while 'Spotlight' segments draw attention to the separate components of the Japanese house. 'At Home In' sections, meanwhile, most authored by architects and their family members, bring to life the experience of living in these unique houses.