Absurdity - that's how world-renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma describes the determination of Tokyo families to own a patch of land, no matter how small, in the world's most populated city. But it's an absurdity that results in architectural outliers: tiny yet unique family homes.
Kuma's musings appear in French photographer Jérémie Souteyrat's 144-page study of Tokyo's urban landscape, titled Tokyo no Ie (Tokyo Houses). The Japanese master's houses are presented alongside those by Pritzker Prize winners Shigeru Ban and Kazuyo Sejima; small-home champions Atelier Bow-Bow; Sou Fujimoto (Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, London) and many more.
Souteyrat, 35, spent four years in search of these urban treasures 'sown like jewels in the immensity of Tokyo'. Says the photographer: 'I like the diversity of this city. If one has the chance to discover a jewel while walking on the street it's a pretty good surprise, isn't it?'
For cultural reasons few Japanese want to live in an old house, so even the gems in this book will likely be demolished within 40 years. 'As the houses are rebuilt every 25 years on average, there are a lot of opportunities for innovative design.'
For the same reason, Tokyo no Ie might become an ongoing project. 'I'd like to take the same pictures at the same locations in 25 years,' says Souteyrat. One of the Kengo Kuma houses in the book has already been refurbished and repainted. In Tokyo, the jewels sparkle for all too brief a moment - making Tokyo no Ie an important document of a city in constant flux.
On the Cherry Blossom, by ALX, 2010.
On the Cherry Blossom, by ALX, 2010.
Ambiflux, by Architecton, 2011.
House NA, by Sou Fujimoto, 2012.
Plastic House, by Kengo Kuma, 2012.
-
Fendi celebrates 100 years with all-out runway show at its new Milan HQIn the wake of Kim Jones’ departure, Silvia Venturini Fendi took the reins for a special co-ed A/W 2025 collection marking the house’s centenary, unveiling it as the first act of celebrations within Fendi’s expansive new headquarters in Milan
-
‘Leigh Bowery!’ at Tate Modern: 1980s alt-glamour, club culture and rebellionThe new Leigh Bowery exhibition in London is a dazzling, sequin-drenched look back at the 1980s, through the life of one of its brightest stars
-
Inside the unexpected collaboration between Marni’s Francesco Risso and artists Slawn and SoldierNew exhibition ‘The Pink Sun’ will take place at Francesco Risso’s palazzo in Milan in collaboration with Saatchi Yates, opening after the Marni show today, 26 February
-
Ten contemporary homes that are pushing the boundaries of architectureA new book detailing 59 visually intriguing and technologically impressive contemporary houses shines a light on how architecture is evolving
-
And the RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2025 goes to... SANAA!The RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2025 winner is announced – Japanese studio SANAA scoops the prestigious architecture industry accolade
-
Architect Sou Fujimoto explains how the ‘idea of the forest’ is central to everythingSou Fujimoto has been masterminding the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka for the past five years, as the site’s design producer. To mark the 2025 Wallpaper* Design Awards, the Japanese architect talks to us about 2024, the year ahead, and materiality, nature, diversity and technological advances
-
Tadao Ando: the self-taught contemporary architecture master who 'converts feelings into physical form’Tadao Ando is a self-taught architect who rose to become one of contemporary architecture's biggest stars. Here, we explore the Japanese master's origins, journey and finest works
-
The Kumagaya House in Saitama is a modest family home subdivided by a soaring interiorThis Kumagaya House is a domestic puzzle box taking the art of the Japanese house to another level as it intersects a minimal interior with exterior spaces, balconies and walkways
-
Shigeru Ban wins 2024 Praemium Imperiale Architecture AwardThe 2024 Praemium Imperiale Architecture Award goes to Japanese architect Shigeru Ban
-
Tsing-Tien Making's approach is rooted in its 'passion' for architectureTsing-Tien Making, a young Chinese practice, joins the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2024
-
Gulbenkian Foundation's new art centre by Kengo Kuma is light and invitingLisbon's Gulbenkian Foundation reveals its redesign and new contemporary art museum, Centro de Arte Moderna (CAM), by Kengo Kuma with landscape architects VDLA
