Articles — Architecture

There are many options when it comes to the materials that make up your tableware. Plastic, while affordable, durable, and lightweight, tends to look cheap on the dinner table. Glass is largely dependable, though it can often be heavy and prone to breaking when dropped. Ceramic is a popular choice because it resists breakage better than glass, though chipping can be an issue. And where does paper fit into the thoughts about tableware? In today’s modern times, paper is seen as a disposable material. Paper plates, napkins, sheets of paper to write on: these are objects we tend to use...

< Horyuji-Temple, Nara, Japan - housing the world's oldest surviving wooden structures It is no exaggeration to say that historically, Japan has developed some of the most advanced woodworking techniques in the world. While Europe and mainland China have always been rich in mineral resources and were able to develop advanced building techniques using stone and clay, Japan’s volcanic soil produces very little usable stone and clay, though, on the plus side, it produces a wide variety of trees from which to build houses and furniture. What is especially interesting is how surprisingly durable and long-lasting Japanese woodworking is even...

Japanese cedar wood has a complicated history. On the one hand, it’s one of the most traditionally common woods in Japan and has been used to make furniture for centuries. Planted in great numbers to replenish forests depleted during WWII, the Japanese cedar grows quickly and is considered a sustainable resource. The wood is well known for its rich, textured color that gives furniture with a strong sense of presence through its pleasant scent and its resistance to decay. The Japanese cedar is iconic, covering the forests of Japan’s most famous landmark, Mount Fuji.  On the other hand, the Japanese cedar comes with its...