Japan Archives

SANAA’s Ambitious Sydney Modern Project Shines in Sydney’s Art Scene

Jenn Thornton May 17, 2023

Japanese architecture firm SANAA has designed the Sydney Modern Project, a $344 million cultural campus in Sydney, Australia. The project, funded by the NSW government and private donations, is an extension of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

A New Way in Old Japan: Maana Homes

Jenn Thornton May 17, 2023

Maana Homes, an independent hospitality brand co-founded by Irene Chang and Hana Tsukamoto, is redefining luxury by creating serene environments within historic machiya townhouses. Combining traditional Japanese carpentry techniques with modern comforts, Maana Kyoto offers a soulful space that reflects Japan’s culture of simplicity.

Ludwig Godefroy’s Concrete Jungle: Casa TO

Jenn Thornton December 14, 2022

This cleverly abstracted concrete oasis by architect Ludwig Godefroy is a bold reinterpretation of an ancient Oaxacan temple, fusing tradition and modernity with seclusion and exposure for something not as much built as sculpted.

Alison Clay-Duboff of RE/MAX Estate Properties

Constance Dunn September 15, 2021

For the world traveler, a Beverly Hills-born Los Angeles native who lived in Paris and the Middle East along the way, coming home to the Beach Cities and digging into real estate meant doing it her way.

California multidisciplinary design Umé Studio

Umé Studio: California Multidisciplinary Design

Karine Monié February 19, 2020

Mei-Lan Tan and Victor Lefebvre, the young duo behind Umé Studio, have different backgrounds but share a vision and great love for materiality.

Architect Tadao Ando on the Poetics of the Primitive with New Book “Endeavors”

Jenn Thornton December 12, 2019

Coherence, as a word, does not elicit an animated response, nor should it particularly. It is a fixed and broad-shouldered term, reliant as a new day. Used in an architectural context, like when describing the work of Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando

Tropical Modernism: The Enduring Legacy of Vladimir Ossipoff in Hawaii

Jenn Thornton July 12, 2018

Although Vladimir Ossipoff passed away in 1998, his vision for Hawaii endures as a timeless legacy. With a profound respect for nature and a devotion to modern design, Ossipoff forever changed the landscape of the Hawaiian Islands, leaving an enduring architectural imprint that continues to inspire and captivate to this day.

Aesthetic Alchemy: Sara Story’s Blend of Tradition & Modernity

Karine Monié January 11, 2018

Sara Story, the New York City-based designer with a global perspective, weaves together cultures and styles to create captivating designs. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in Japan, Singapore, and Houston, Story’s aesthetic is a delightful blend of tradition and innovation.

Uniquely Miyabi Uni

Virginia Fay June 1, 2017

A delicacy unlike any other, properly prepared uni—or sea urchin—is a singular pleasure. It’s also the focus of chefs Isao Minami and Hisao Kasama’s new restaurant, Miyabi Uni in Torrance, launched with a mission to bring this unique dish to its full potential.