A garden breathes anew with pruning
A garden is a living organism. Just like humans and animals, if it isn’t continuously cared for, it becomes unhealthy, falls ill, and in severe cases, dies. Yet if treated before it is too late, it breathes anew. This summer, I experienced this simple truth firsthand. I helped facilitate a pruning workshop led by Mr. […]
Shakkei in Modern Architecture: Capturing the Landscape Alive
In the creation of Japanese gardens, there is a traditional technique known as Shakkei, or “borrowed scenery.” It is the art of incorporating the landscape beyond the property’s boundaries so seamlessly that it appears to be an integral part of the garden itself. However, this spatial manipulation—framing and capturing an outside view—is not unique to […]
Focusing on the Japanese Garden as a Healing Garden
It has long been observed that Japanese gardens and traditional architectural spaces offer profound psychological and physical healing effects for those who inhabit them. At PED, we are convinced that the essence of these restorative spaces can be integrated into modern architecture worldwide. We continue to conduct research to bridge these traditional wisdoms with contemporary […]
Sankirou: A Symbol of Mojiko’s Golden Age
Mojiko Port in Kitakyushu City has a storied history, having prospered for nearly half a century after being designated a special national export port in 1889. However, following World War II, the opening of the Kanmon Tunnel and the Shinkansen bypassing Moji led to the town’s decline. In recent years, based on the 1987 “Mojiko […]
Embracing Safety and Tradition in Japanese Home Design
As someone originally from Japan—a “Quake Country”—I find myself looking at the increasingly slender, impossibly tall skyscrapers of the New York City skyline with a distinct unease. To me, these structures possess incredible, almost unbelievable proportions. While the United States is not defined by earthquakes in the same way Japan is, major seismic events do […]
