Top 10 Japan-Inspired LEGO Builds For Those LEGO Fanatics Who Also Love Some Sushi & Cherry Blossom

Japanese culture and history have always been a source of inspiration for the entire design world. We see Japan-inspired designs in almost every aspect of our lives, so why not in the world of LEGO?! Japanese culture has managed to inspire many talented LEGO builders around the world, resulting in beautiful creations that perfectly capture the essence and spirit of Japan. From a bowl of steaming hot ramen to the traditional Shogun Armour, LEGO master builders have managed to capture them all in the form of exquisite and intricately built LEGO constructions. Dive in!

1. LEGO Ramen Bowl

Micdud’s LEGO Ramen Bowl is made using LEGO bricks and it looks super realistic! “The model was designed, as a fully customizable construction, thanks to a wide selection of ingredients,” says LEGO builder Micdud. The ramen bowl includes a “bamboo” roll-out pad, a stunning “ceramic” bowl made with intricate details, as well as chopsticks that are hidden in a decorated “paper” wrapping. It also includes a special chirirenge spoon!

2. LEGO Cherry Blossom

These lovely LEGO Cherry Blossoms are designed to get you ready for Spring! The LEGO build features two buildable cherry blossom twigs that can you mix and match to create some pretty white and pink blooms. You need to build the flowers with the 438 pieces that come with the set, to build two twigs that measure up to 14 inches.

3. The Great Wave of Kanagawa

The Great Wave of Kanagawa is one of the most iconic paintings in the art world. It is a lovely and significant hallmark of Japan’s Ukioy-e art movement, and LEGO Art’s interpretation of it includes plastic blocks and a brick count of 1810 pieces. The build also includes a special brick that holds artist Hokusai’s signature! It makes use of multiple dot-shaped bricks that give the painting a pointillism effect.

4. LEGO Sushi Board

If you’re a sushi lover, then this LEGO Sushi Board is a dream come true for you! Made using 1348 pieces, this sushi board is accompanied by matching chopsticks, 6 types of sushi, ginger, wasabi, as well as a matching bowl of soy sauce. The objects aren’t attached to the board, and they can be moved around and arranged, creating an interactive and adorable sushi experience. The sushi includes – one regular and one vegetarian maki roll, a regular uramaki roll, a shrimp nigiri, a salmon nigiri, and an egg nigiri!

5. LEGO Toyota GR Supra

To celebrate the iconic Toyota GR Supra’s 35th anniversary a few years ago, LEGO Japan, LEGOLAND Japan, and Toyota Gazoo Racing created a life-size replica of the sports car. The LEGO version was wider than the original automotive and weighed more as well – almost 4156 pounds. The car was almost entirely made of LEGO bricks, which was truly a commendable and impressive sight, whether you’re a LEGO fan or not!

6. LEGO Girls In Kimonos

Inspired by a summer trip to Japan, LEGO builder The DriXx built two girls in kimonos and traditional Japanese accessories using LEGO bricks! One of the kimonos was embossed with cherry blossoms, while the other one was inspired by cranes and flowers. He wanted to capture the sight of people wearing yukatas or summer kimonos during the summer festival, with everyone walking around cheerfully. He used flower pieces and rounded tiles for the intricate and beautiful patterning of the kimonos.

7. LEGO Eventide

This 2486-piece LEGO mosaic signifies eventide- 宵 (you), which is a Kanji character symbolic of the hours of the evening until midnight. The character also represents the eve of an event, particularly festivals. The LEGO build was created to celebrate the many flower festivals that are held in Japan, and the beautiful flower motif blossoming from the setting sun is meant to signify the growing excitement and merriment on the eve of festivals.

8. LEGO Japanese Koi Fish Pond

LEGO builder ToboPro created a LEGO koi fish pond with koi that swims around if you rotate the handle. Koi fish have a lot of significant value and meaning in Japanese culture. They represent perseverance, luck, love, and prosperity, and ToboPro wanted to translate these meaningful concepts into a tangible build made using 1970 pieces. The pond is decorated with bamboo and other greenery.

9. LEGO Shogun Armour

This beautiful ornate shogun design by Mohamed Marei artfully uses a balance of LEGO Technic and System parts. Each LEGO piece has been chosen to beautifully replicate the plated nature of the ancient Japanese armor, creating a design that is divine looking. Mohamed used all types of gold 1×1 round plates in this build. Tread pieces were also used around the arms above the elbow and at the base of the warrior’s kusazuri.

10. LEGO Soba Noodle Bowl

Build by LEGO builder John Snyder this bowl of soba noodles looks so yummy and appealing, it almost looks real! John wanted to build radish slices, and slowly and steadily he created a whole bowl of noodles. He inserted bicycle wheels into inverted radar dishes to create the radish slices. The chopsticks are made from LEGO as well, and the color balancing is perfect, really making the entire dish stand out.

The post Top 10 Japan-Inspired LEGO Builds For Those LEGO Fanatics Who Also Love Some Sushi & Cherry Blossom first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Adaptable Studio Apartment In Japan Is Designed As “One Big Room” For Living & Working

Dubbed the Building Frame of the House, this home in Tokyo is a unique adaptable space for both living and working. It features stepped living areas framed by boardmarked concrete walls. It is designed by IGArchitects to function as “one big room”.

“[The clients] have a vague boundary between their private and work life, they were imagining a house where they can work anywhere and where they can sense the presence of each other wherever in the house,” said founder Masato Igarashi. “With such lifestyle, rather than have small spaces for compact living, the house was designed to have a large volume and scale that makes various interactions between inside and outside space,” he added.

Designer: IGArchitects

The home’s central space is designed to be as open as possible, with the studio organizing the home’s floors as irregularly stepped mezzanine layers. The various floors are connected via a black-metal staircase and a ladder. At the rear of the home, there is a ground-floor kitchen and first-floor bathroom. The bedrooms and the living spaces are located at the front. A massive bookcase is nestled against the southern wall.

The side walls of the home have been left quite blank, with sections of full-height glazing located at the front of the home, which offer a generous amount of natural light. “The floors are divided to make it difficult to see the interior from the outside, which is treated like a wall,” said Igarashi. “The way the space is used overlaps, responding to the residents’ lifestyle,” he continued. “The floors can turn into a seat, table, shelf, ceiling, or bed.”

The boardmarked concrete structures within the home are exposed, which are teamed up with wooden floors and shelving, and metal countertops in the kitchen, creating an interesting contrast. “We selected materials that would develop their own flavor as they age, and we wanted to bring out the texture and strength of the materials and their shades in the space,” said Igarashi. “Since the site is too small to create a garden, the interior and exterior are treated equally, and the materials are unified inside and out.”

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Top 10 product designs to add some Japanese minimalism + elegance to your everyday life

In the past couple of years, Japanese design philosophy and principles have been discovered by the rest of us, and since then they have slowly but surely taken over the world. There’s something about products with a Japanese touch that instantly makes you feel at ease. They have a sense of warmth and tranquility to them, one that spreads in the space that they’re placed into. There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life.  And we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs – from furniture to stationery! Whether you’re looking for a minimal folding knife or the latest G-Shock watch with Japanese elements – these beautifully designed products are all you need to introduce some Japanese zen and peace into your daily life!

1. The Levitating Pen

Much like its name, the Levitating Pen actually does seem to be levitating! It looks as if the pen is suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle. Designed to be a grand writing instrument, the pen features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, making the pen rigid and easy to hold and creating a smooth and luxurious writing experience. And once you take a break from writing, the pen doesn’t go back to a boring old pen stand, it goes back to levitating!

Why is it noteworthy?

When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!

What we like

  • The pen is super fun to interact with
  • Quite easy to hold and write with
  • Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster

What we dislike

  • The pen has smooth edges that may cause it to roll off when kept on a curved surface

2. The Tri Light

Designed by the design brand Tokio, the Tri Light is a modular sculptural light that is inspired by the Japanese shoji. The Japanese shoji is a door, window, or room divider in the form of a paper screen, that is quite popularly used in traditional Japanese architecture.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Tri light features an interesting honeycomb-like structure that directly drew inspiration from a shoji. “Inspired by the Japanese shoji concept, Tri Light is the combination of old traditions and modern technology – we set out to design something that would be modern, classical, and timeless at the same time,” said Tokio.

What we like

  • The light is built using milled and anodized aluminum triangles that were designed to be expanded and configured in different configurations and customizations

What we dislike

  • It’s a pretty space-consuming design, not suitable for smaller homes
  • There aren’t different color options to choose from

3. Oku Knife

Scottish artist and metal worker Kathleen Reilly designed the ‘Oku Knife’. Inspired by Japanese table settings, the Oku knife features a rather intriguing handle that is folded 90 degrees from its blade. The design was informed by chopstick resets.

Why is it noteworthy?

Oku features a unique folded shape that lets the handle be placed on a surface, with the blade sitting perpendicularly away from that particular surface. You can even rest the knife’s blade along the edge of a cutting board or plate.

What we like

  • The knife can be hooked onto the rim of a plate, creating intimacy between the two objects whilst improving cleanliness and maintaining stability

What we dislike

  • The design may seem pointless or unnecessary to some people

4. Makita’s Microwave

It’s surprising that portable microwaves aren’t a thing yet but the Japanese power tool maker now has one for those who like to go camping or are at construction sites. The cordless microwave uses the cordless XTGT system to help you heat your meals and snacks when you’re on the go.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has 40-volt rechargeable batteries and can use up to 500 watts for eight minutes and then 350 watts after that to save energy. If you’re worried about safety, there are things in place so it won’t blast anything when it’s not in use. It also deactivates when it’s tilted or when the door is opened.

What we like

  • When the batteries are fully charged, it will be able to warm up 11 meals or 20 drinks
  • It also has a USB port so you can also juice up your smartphone or a gadget

What we dislike

  • If you’re warming up frozen meals, it might take up more energy so you’ll be able to reheat fewer meals

5. The Spectrum Workstation Round ST160

Studio Geckeler Michels designed the Spectrum Workstation Round ST160 for Karimoku New Standard. Karimoku New Standard is an offshoot of Karimoku. It was founded to easily combine the brand’s craftsmanship with design studios around the world. The studio designed the minimal workstation to bring a semblance of calm and tranquility to our hectic workspaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The station perfectly embodies Japanese craftsmanship and German design, in an attempt to merge stunning aesthetics with efficiency and functionality. It has been crafted from solid Japanese oak wood and is designed to support a flexible and dynamic style of working.

What we like

  • Works well for both home and corporate offices
  • The workstation can seat up to six people quite comfortably, so it’s also great to sit together and interact and collaborate

What we dislike

  • The rounded edges of the table makes it difficult to differentiate personal space in the workplace

6. The Japanese Cloud Dock

With a two-part design that snaps together right around your existing Switch dock, this rather whimsical 3D print from Holoprops elevates your gaming console in an aesthetic sense!

Why is it noteworthy?

Designed to make it look like your Switch is nestled amongst Japanese clouds, Holoprops’ dock really turns your piece of tech into beautiful sculptural home decor. Moreover, the model is also carefully designed to make sure it doesn’t obstruct the airflow of the Switch while it’s docked or the cables at the back.

What we like

  • The Japanese Cloud Dock takes inspiration from the ‘Kumo’, or the Japanese cloud motifs often found in arts, prints, and even in traditional clothing

What we dislike

  • It isn’t readily available

7. The Jakobsson Lamps

Japanese lighting brand Yamagiwa and late Swedish designer Hans-Agne Jakobsson partnered up to create a collection of stunning minimal lamps that cast a light “reminiscent of a bonfire”. They are called the Jakobsson lamps, and they feature light shades that have been crafted from concentric brands of naturally dried pine wood.

Why is it noteworthy?

The lamps beautifully merge Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, and in turn, pay an ode to the utilization of wood, and warm-toned colors that give a cozy and inviting appeal to the products. In fact, the lamps are manufactured by Japanese artisans. The artisans artfully dry and bend the pine into intriguing shapes, while paying special attention to the growth rings found in timber.

What we like

  • A beautiful infusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design
  • Comes in three interesting variations

What we dislike

  • The lamp comes with a fixed height

8. The Furoshiki Denim Bag

Blue Ainery’s Furoshiki denim bag was created by using the traditional dyeing and weaving methods of Japan. The compact fashion storage accessory pays tribute to the history and tradition of Japan, which many still follow and apply even today. The bag is an example of how the hard-earned lessons of the past can be used to make something beautiful and sustainable in the present.

Why is it noteworthy?

Almost everything about the Furoshiki denim bag is a nod to Japan’s past culture, design, and fashion. The term “furoshiki” itself is a reference to the traditional Japanese wrapping of cloths for goods, bento boxes, and informal gifts. When worn as a bag, the Furoshiki looks more like an “Azuma Fukuro” that predated today’s modern tote bags by about four centuries

What we like

  • It has a minimalist charm to it
  • Its uncomplicated shape leaves enough room for plenty of items inside
  • Utilizes traditional Japanese methods and techniques

What we dislike

  • The design might seem basic and old-fashioned to some

9 The G-B001 Line

G-Shock recently added the G-B001 line to their collection. It features the double bezel Capsule Tough features, and these removable bezels are crafted from stainless steel and urethane. It also boasts a resin case and a sturdy structure that has been reinforced with Carbon Core Guard.

Why is it noteworthy?

The capsule design is inspired by those toy capsules that you get in vending machines in Japan you never know what is inside them until you actually open them.

What we like

  • The detachable bezels for all these models of the G-B001 let you play around with the watch’s look

What we dislike

  • It’s only available in Japan for now

10. The Japanese Paper Memo Block

The Japanese paper Memo Block comes in to provide a temporary shelter for those itinerant thoughts of yours.

Why is it noteworthy?

There is nothing more welcoming and more freeing than a blank sheet of paper that’s ready to record those fleeting thoughts, flashes of inspiration, or even tasks that were suddenly dumped on your lap. With no other markings, not even grids or lines, this white Memo Block lets you focus on the simplest task at hand, jotting that note down before you get distracted again. And with its smaller footprint, it’s easy to put a block of paper anywhere on your desk, in any position or orientation, so that it will always be within easy reach when your Muse or your colleague visits you.

What we like

  • Its pure black surface challenges the mind as if daring it to put an unconventional and exciting new thought on paper
  • Uses high-quality Japanese paper revered by many stationery connoisseurs

What we dislike

  • At first glance, it seems like an ordinary notepad

The post Top 10 product designs to add some Japanese minimalism + elegance to your everyday life first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 5 innovative + impressive products to bring the best of Japanese design to you

In the past couple of years, Japanese design philosophy and principles have been discovered by the rest of us, and since then they have slowly but surely taken over the world. There’s something about products with a Japanese touch that instantly makes you feel at ease. They have a sense of warmth and tranquility to them, one that spreads in the space that they’re placed into. There’s something surreal and relaxing about Japanese-inspired products, that just makes you want to introduce some minimalism into your life.  And we’ve got you covered with a collection of innovative Japanese designs – from wearing aids to stationery! Whether you’re looking for a lovely levitating pen or a Japanese rubber gear that helps people relearn to walk after an accident– these beautifully designed products are all you need to introduce some Japanese functionality, practicality, and peace into your daily life!

1. The Levitating Pen 3.0

The Levitating Pen 3.0 does complete justice to its name. The pen seems to be suspended in its holder at a 23.5-degree angle and is designed to be a luxurious and grand writing instrument that features a Schmidt ballpoint cartridge, which makes the pen rigid and also super easy to hold.

Why is it noteworthy?

When done writing, you close the pen’s magnetic cap with a satisfying click and position the pen in its holder that has been magnetized to keep the pen floating in that position. To add to the fun, a simple twist leaves the pen spinning in its place for a good 20 seconds, allowing you to interact with the pen on a whole new level!

What we like

  • The pen is super fun to interact with
  • Relatively easy to hold and write with
  • Spinning the pen in certain intervals can be a stress buster

What we dislike

  • We wonder how ergonomic or comfortable the pen would be to use for longer durations of time

2. The Lightbone Floor Lamp

Designed by FÄRG & BLANCHE for Oblure, the Lightbone Floor Lamp is inspired by a bamboo forest on a trip to Japan, and features an interesting and unique focal point – the connection point between the spherical glass globes and the wooden sections, which also gave birth to the name of the lamp.

Why is it noteworthy?

You can place the lamp next to your sofa, or place multiple Lightbone Floor Lamps to create a cluster of lamps that look like a miniature and imitation Japanese bamboo forest.

What we like

  • Is available in custom color options, so you can create a lamp or group of lamps that perfectly match the interior decor style of your home

What we dislike

  • No information on how to replace the light bulbs once they die out and need to be changed

3. Mecricco Catch

Designed by Plus, these interesting elastic page-turning aids are called Mecricco Catch, and they help you turn your paper products with ease. The page-turning aids have an outer rib, that allows you to hold the paper firmly, while the inner rib ensures that your fingers don’t slip while you’re flipping.

Why is it noteworthy?

The elastic page-turning aids feature a concave curve at the bottom, that lets you freely move your fingers as you flip. It has been equipped with holes as well, to provide ventilation, so your finger has some room to breathe.

What we like

  • This is useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper

What we dislike

  • If you have gone entirely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need

4. Tri Light

This stunning lighting fixture is called the Tri Light, and is a modular sculptural light inspired by the Japanese shoji. What is the Japanese Shoji? It is a door, window, or room divider in the form of a paper screen, used quite popularly in traditional Japanese architecture.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Tri light features an interesting honeycomb-like structure that directly drew inspiration from a shoji. It is designed to be expanded and configured in different configurations and customizations.

What we like

  • The lighting design can be divided into multiple zones, allowing each zone to be configured to radiate different light strengths and temperatures

What we dislike

  • No personal customization options in terms of materials and colors
  • Unsuitable for homes and spaces with smaller footprints

5. The Futto

Designed by Yoshihiro Yamada, the Futto is a rather odd-looking yet ingenious wearable rubber gear that helps your muscles relearn to walk after an injury, or for the elderly.

Why is it noteworthy?

It “replaces” the muscles that you use for walking and strengthens the weak points that may need some support, as guided by a specialist like a physiotherapist. It is not a replacement for rehab exercises but it will be able to help strengthen your walking muscles.

What we like

  • Helps to “straighten” your posture by creating abdominal pressure from the corset, while the rubber stabilizes the lower limbs and stretches the spine
  • Not heavy to wear

What we dislike

  • Can seem weird to onlookers if taken out of context
  • The aesthetics can be improved

The post Top 5 innovative + impressive products to bring the best of Japanese design to you first appeared on Yanko Design.

A temporary hall with a floating forest on its roof was added to the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Japan

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is a historic shrine in Fukuoka in southern Japan. The shrine is 1100 years old, and recently Sou Fujimoto designed a temporary new hall for it. However, the hall will only be erect for three years, although it does look right out of a Japanese fairy tale. The minimal black hall features a floating forest on an oval roof, a flying plum tree, and sacred textiles that can only be seen by a deity.

Designer: Sou Fujimoto

The new hall has a rather modern take on traditional shrine architecture, especially with the elliptical floating forest on the roof. The aforementioned sacred textiles have been designed by the Japanese fashion brand Mame Kurogouchi, and crafted by generations-old Kyoto artisans. They are placed center stage, and the inner sides cant be viewed by human eyes, only by the shrine’s deity.

“With this project, we were faced with the important question of how modern architecture can respond to a history of 1,100 years,” said Fujimoto. “We thought about the rich nature that surrounds Dazaifu Tenmangu and the traditions of the shrine – and approached the design with a conscious desire to pass these onto the future. We started this over two years ago. It was a challenge creating a temporary building that is both traditional and modern, while also continuing into the future. It’s very simple but it carries a long, important history.” he continued.

The clean matte black steel hall opens up on all three sides. Bits of traditional shrine architecture has been incorporated within the structure, with a contemporary touch – such as the gentle curvature of its louvered black wood ceiling, inspired by the shrine’s taruki rafters, which create “spatial solemnity” according to Fujimoto. The roof features a circular skylight that allows natural light to stream into the hall, hitting the floor in front of the visitors, as they pray.

Explaining the floating forest, Fujimoto adds: “Its concept derives from the legend of the flying plum tree. Plum trees and other plants seem to fly here and dance, creating the roof of the deity’s dwelling. They will change color as the climate and seasons shift.” The floating forest adds a stunning green element to the hall, functioning not only as an elaborate green roof but also as a wonderful mythical component.

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Tiny japanese elastic aid helps you turn papers easily, making it every book lover’s must-have

If you work in an industry where flipping pages and other papers is still an every day thing, then you have probably experienced paper cuts and finger fatigue among other things. You would think that in a highly digital society like Japan that shouldn’t be a problem. But alas, it is still indeed a common enough issue for people like bank tellers, proofreaders, clerks who deal with a lot of paperwork, and probably those who work in stationery companies (and we know Japan has a lot of those). We know that it’s a problem because we get products like these page-turning aids.

Designer: Plus

The elastic page-turning aids from Plus are called Mecricco Catch and they fulfill the sole purpose letting you turn paper products easily. The outer rib part of the device is able to hold the paper firmly while the inner ribs helps prevent your fingers from slipping while you’re flipping. There is also a concave curve at the bottom of the aid that lets you freely move your finger as you flip. You even get some holes that provide ventilation so your finger will have room to breathe.

This is also useful for those who have some sort of exquisite nail job that you need to protect even as you flip money or paper. There is also a shorter version of the Mecricco Catch that will allow you to type on a keyboard if you need to take a break from your paper-counting task. There seems to be several colors available so you can choose one that matches your outfit for the day or even contrast with your nail color of the moment. The design of the page-turning aids are simple enough but you know that it is practical and each tiny part has a purpose.

If you have gone completely digital, then this is something that you probably don’t need. But if your work involves a lot of paper or if you read a lot of paper books, then it’s something that you probably will need. For now it seems to be available in Japan only but you’ll probably eventually see it in your friendly Japanese store soon.

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Dark cedar-clad home delicately floats above a green slope in the woods of Japan

Nestled in the hilly residential area in Nagoya City, Japan, is a small cozy home called the House in Yagoto. The house is located on a slope shrouded with greenery and nature. The home is perched above a steep incline, with a covering of trees surrounding it, and a forest located on its northern edge. The architects designed the home in a manner that could tackle this challenging topography,  and keep costs and the impact on the environment at a minimum.

Designer: Airhouse

Airhouse’s design plan for the home was building a construction foundation of only four steel columns, which reduces the building’s ground contact area with the use of cantilevering reinforced concrete floor. The floor holds a dark greyish cedar-clad home that seems to subtly float in the air. The cantilevered floor is the star feature of the construction, and it functions as the foundation for the home. This gives the impression that the House of Yagoto is intriguingly hovering in the air, and rising above the green slope.

Since the color selected for the exterior of the home was a dark one, this creates an interesting contrast to its green and natural surroundings. The cedar-clad exterior gives the home the visual of a tranquil mountain villa. The design strategies used by the team ensured minimal disturbance to the landscape and eliminated the need to build a base in the ground and put up large walls. “As a result, by thinking about the foundation of the building, we were able to build a house economically even on a sloping land, and we believe that we were able to create a rich living environment that floats in the forest,” said the Japanese architecture studio.

The interiors of the home are quite open and free-flowing. You are invited to a peaceful living space that shares a serene connection to nature. In fact, you feel deeply connected to the surrounding nature and feel immersed in it. The airy interior is marked by natural materials and open spaces, that create an ongoing fluid conversation with the trees around the home. The intention behind the home was to allow nature to effortlessly and seamlessly mix and interweave with the living space.

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The Tokyo Toilet’s newest installation brings a pixelated light show

The Tokyo Toilet is an interesting project that launched back in Shibuya, aiming to create 17 different functional installations all over the city. They wanted to turn public toilets into unique facilities and experiences and they involved some of the most renowned architects and designers to take part. There have been some pretty remarkable things launched already including the all-glass see-through ones at the Yoyogi Fukamachi Minipark and Haru no Ogawa Community Park and the octopus or squid-looking one at the Ebisu East Park.

Designer: Tomohito Ushiro

The latest one to be launched for The Tokyo Toilet is located in Hiroo Higashi Park, a space in a residential area in Shibuya. What makes this public restroom interesting is that at night, you get to see a light show on its exterior. In fact, he programmed 7.9 billion different lighting patterns, representing the current estimated population. So this means each person can see different “shows” and they will not see the same pattern at all, representing the fact that we are the same and yet different.

The design of the structure itself looks like the restrooms in public swimming pools with its clean interior fixtures and a combination of white and steel colors for its exteriors. At the back, you see a glass exterior that houses the light panel. The real show begins once it’s dark enough and we start seeing the lighting patterns through its pixelated glow. He was inspired by the nature and greenery that surrounds the park, like the light that filters through the trees or the moon’s reflection at night.

During the day, the public toilet looks like a simple, minimalist restroom. It has two universal toilets inside that have an ostomate-friendly system and a diaper-changing station. Aside from actually using the restroom, the art installation feel at dusk or evening will be the thing that you’d want to see if ever you’re in the area. It will probably look weird for you to stand outside a public toilet but there will probably be other weirdos there with you looking at the light show.

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This peculiar furniture set gives styrofoam a new home inside yours

The way our brain works, we become almost numb and blind to the most mundane things that we see every day. It’s a survival tactic that prevents our brains from blowing up at every external stimulus. For example, we easily take styrofoam for granted in whatever form it comes in, be it large slabs or tiny balls, because they’re easy to ignore in all the packaging, cups, and containers that we see day in and day out. These synthetic objects, however, obviously have a negative impact on the environment, and the measures taken to reduce that ironically still stress both natural and human resources. That’s why these pieces of furniture try to nip the problem in the bud by giving styrofoam a new purpose inside or outside your home without having to travel far from where they’re taken.

Designers: we+

Styrofoam, by nature, is not only non-biodegradable but also potentially harmful to our own health, which makes its use as food and beverage containers sound almost ironic. The good news is that styrofoam can actually be transformed into materials for recycled plastic products after they have been melted and treated, presuming they’re even disposed of properly. The bad news is that these materials are often sent to other countries, which makes the entire process inefficient, wasteful, and still harmful to the environment in the long run.

Japan, for example, often exports styrofoam melted into ingots only to have those become the foundations for products bought in bargain stores. Rather than going through that roundabout and expensive process, Refoam starts and ends in Japan, right where the styrofoam is melted. This recycled goo is then immediately used to build up structures with unique textures and surfaces. Structures that can become tables, chairs, and furniture that will give any space a distinct look.

Whether from near or from a distance, it’s easy to see that any piece of Refoam furniture has a unique and almost odd aesthetic. It’s like a cross between cracked concrete and molten lava that has been cooled after it was given shape. Given the process involved in melting pieces of styrofoam and placing the resulting goo into molds to cool, that’s a rather accurate representation.

The Refoam series’ rocky appearance makes it almost perfect for outdoor use, but it can still fit in some interior motifs, particularly those aiming for cold, earthy tones. More importantly, however, it provides not only a more sustainable process for recycling styrofoam waste but also gives the material new value, even in its raw, melted form.

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This cocoon-shaped hotel in Japan brings the mountain & agricultural life to you

Situated upon a mortar-shaped hill in Kurkku Fields of Kizarazu City, Chiba Prefecture in Japan is ‘Villa Cocoon’. Villa Cocoon brings mountain and agricultural living to the guests of the hotel and invites them to live such a life for the duration of their stay. The hotel draws inspiration from the concept of ‘cocoons’, within which butterflies and moths stay for a few days, and then come out completely bloomed with stunning wings. The same concept was applied to the hotel, wherein guests are encouraged to come, stay, and rejuvenate themselves with the simple mountain and agricultural life.

Designer: Takato Yoshida of ikken

The property consists of expanses of beautiful greenery which is sparsed with six cocoon-shaped rooms that occupy a small amount of space. The rooms are surrounded by trees, shrubs, plants, and different types of vegetation. The guest rooms are further connected to a restaurant, a kitchen lounge, and a sauna, which function as common areas wherein the guests can interact and connect with each other. The interiors of the room feature massive windows which provide an almost canvas-like view of the surroundings, truly giving a picture-perfect visual to the eyes! White walls and wooden furniture accentuate the minimal aura of the room, while the balcony curves outwards to give the room its cocoon-like shape.

The exciting part about Villa Cocoon is that the guests can harvest their own food! The guests are welcome to search for their own food, by picking and gathering the ingredients that grow on the agricultural site. They are also encouraged to cook their own meals using the ingredients they harvested. Of course, for those who don’t know how to cook or don’t want to cook on vacation, there’s a pretty cafe where light meals are served throughout the day. The guests can also visit the restaurant where the local produce from the mountains is used to prepare dishes.

The kitchen is highlighted by a long island which is accompanied by tall chairs. It forms a single line, which creates a communal space that is great to connect with one another in. Impressive windows mark the kitchen lounge, providing guests with a view of swaying native trees as they enjoy their meals.

After a sumptuous and organic meal, the guests can stop by the Finnish sauna, to unwind and burn some calories. Villa Cocoon will open on November 24th, 2022. Mark the date, in case you’re planning to visit!

The post This cocoon-shaped hotel in Japan brings the mountain & agricultural life to you first appeared on Yanko Design.