Eric Manigian Studio

On Japan’s Sagi Island, Mihara, Japan.

Another wonderful visit with artist Max Gimblett. This is a series of visits that will hopefully culminate in an essay or article on the Zen aspects of his life and work.

I met Yoshihiro Takish*ta about 20 years ago at a Timber Framer’s Guild conference/workshop.

Minka: A Farmhouse in Japan | Made With Kickstarter | The New York Times A film about place and memory, a farmhouse in Japan, and the lives of the people who called it home.Produced by: Davina PardoRead the story here: http://nyti...

Thallo Boutique Hotel in the Mayangxi mountains of China, designed by Buro Ziyu Zhang.

RIP Richard Serra.

Pagoda at Nakayama Temple. Stunning.

Sayama Forest Chapel, Tokyo, Japan. Architect, Hiroshi Nakamura for Boenfukyukai Foundation.

“Sayama Lakeside Cemetery is open to various religions and denominations. It is located in a nature-rich environment adjacent to the water conservation forest, and the site itself is in front of a deep forest. I envisioned an architecture that reflects on the way of life as it lives by the water conserved by the forest, and eventually returns to this place after death. Thereupon, I found the forest to be the subject of prayer that is mutual to various religions and conceptualized an architecture that prays to the forest while surrounded by trees. The site is a small triangular plot of land. Therefore, I have decided to create a space that devotes to the forest that is transcendent in its existence, by tilting the wall inward to avoid the tree branches and leaves. It forms a traditional Japanese Gassho- style structure composed three- dimensionally as two leaning beams set against each other are developed in every direction. The roof is covered with cast- aluminum tiles with ripple-like textures each made by hands of craftsmen according to the complex three-dimensional surface. As the altar faces the forest in the south east direction, during a memorial service in the morning, the light through tree leaves and branches pour onto the altar as light shining through a stained glass. The floor inclined towards the forest by 1 centimeter guides people towards the departed and the forward bending posture for praying. The patterns of slate and the seams in between extend towards the vanishing point deep into the forest to help one with concentrating the mind on the forest. When one prays, a small warm space is created as the fingers gently join. It is as if that small space of prayer was taken out to form the architecture. As people pray, so does the architecture.”

https://archello.com/project/alta-tower

Alta Tower | Hamonic+Masson & Associés | Archello Twisting concrete tower is a new landmark at the centre of French UNESCO World Heritage site. A 55-metre-tall residential tower, designed by architec...

Beautiful shot of Richard Serra in one of his sculptures.

https://archello.com/news/detail-photovoltaic-roof-of-google-bay-view-campus-mountain-view

Detail: Photovoltaic Roof of Google Bay View Campus, Mountain View | Archello International firm

Roof shingles at Ginkakuji Temple, Kyoto.