Kazuo Shinohara: The Umbrella House Project

The book "The Umbrella House: The Smallest Residential Home by Japanese Architect and Mathematician Kazuo Shinohara" tells the story of his unique masterpiece, which was first built in Tokyo in 1961 and later moved to a new location on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein (Germany). The post-and-beam construction of the wooden house references traditional Japanese domestic and temple architecture. Experts from Japan and Europe supervised the dismantling and reassembly of the house. The book includes illustrations, architectural designs, and photographs that document the journey of the Umbrella House. Texts by Ryue Nishizawa, Shin-ichi Okuyama, and David B. Stewart discuss the house in the context of Japanese architectural discourse between 1960 and the present.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Vitra Design Museum

The Umbrella House, a remarkable residential masterpiece designed by Japanese architect and mathematician Kazuo Shinohara (1925-2006), stands as the epitome of his unique artistic vision. This captivating book delves into the captivating story of this extraordinary creation, which first emerged in Tokyo in 1961. Over six decades later, a stroke of good fortune allowed the Umbrella House to be saved from demolition and relocated to its current resting place on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

The construction of the wooden houses employs a post-and-beam framework, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese domestic and temple architecture. A team of experts from Japan and Europe meticulously supervised the dismantling of the house in Tokyo and its meticulous reassembly in Weil am Rhein.

The book unfolds its narrative through a series of lavish illustrations, encompassing impressions from 1960s Japan, architectural designs, and plans. Photographs, taken during the dismantling and reassembly processes or showcasing the house in its new German surroundings, provide a visual chronicle of this remarkable journey.

In addition to the visual feast, the book features insightful texts by Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), Shin-ichi Okuyama, and David B. Stewart. These essays contextualize the Umbrella House within the broader discourse of Japanese architectural discourse between 1960 and the present.

The genesis of Kazuo Shinohara's conviction that "A House is a Work of Art" can be traced back to his unwavering dedication to the Umbrella House. He sought to encapsulate the powerful spatial essence of an old Japanese farmhouse within the geometric structural design of a karakasa, an oiled-paper Japanese umbrella. This profound artistic expression found its fullest realization in the Umbrella House, a testament to Shinohara's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of architectural creativity.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 184 x 252 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783945852552