Recent read: Tokyo Metabolizing by Koh, Yoshiharu & Ryue

I found this book at Ginza Six's Tsutaya in Tokyo and have been keeping my daily commute busy with this book and I must say it is such an interesting read.

In this book, Japanese architect, Koh Kitayama, presents the journey of Japanese housing, and his findings of the activities that motivated the shifts from the 1st generation housing up to today's 4th generation iteration. In many countries, houses often increase in value over time, but in Japan, a new buyer often has to demolish a house to rebuild from scratch. The life span of a house in Japan usually lasts for 26 years. Constant change is an inherent part of the Japanese urban system and that is why Koh explains Tokyo akin to a living organism. Tokyo as a collection of independent houses reflects a reality of individual urbanism instead of collective urbanism.

The book is a part of an exhibition by Koh Kitayama, Atelier Bow-Wow & Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA at the Venice Architecture Biennale. They think that if the house reflects the dreams and aspirations of the people living in it, it is these residential areas that provide the city of Tokyo with character, not buildings. skyscrapers or commercial development.