MODERN JAPA[?]

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 September 1932, Page 4

MODERN JAPA[?]

MANY CONTRA A BLENDING OF ST FROM THE OLD AND NEW EVOLVING AN ARCHIT

(Written for the "Post M. Joseph Major.j There are infinitely interes jects concerning Japan, not cause there is something exi it that appeals to our curij chiefly on account of the sft colour which remains intact ter how thoroughly Japan u ternationalisied. The Japanese are well 1; their quick imitation of -vv}i ■goodnn other countries. At time, it must he recognised Japanese are none the less the assimilation of what t imitated. This is shown pa in architecture. Until the end of the 19tl squatting on cushions genei vailed in Japan. Consequent! architecture was designed \ sideration of the squatting, a the low ceilings. This situaj through a revolutionary chaij heginning of the 20th centurj with increasing numhers of 1 ings and skyscrapers, the use greatly increased. Modern i concrete buildings spring up and -Osaka at a rate of one two weeks and smaller huildiit rate of fiye per week. The are so thoroughgoing that foreigners who come to on (Japan) in quest of the exotic mysticism which is associat such words as Samurai, Hari •Geisha Girl, the present-da inay he a gross dis'appoihtxne; almost unhelievahle that tha "sation of Japan has been fa more thorough than that of hot even speaking of the smal tries of Europe. With the popularisation p: instead of squatting, the styli houses also underwent a greai But many foreign-style reside proved rather uncomfortable Japanese climate. There is ai at present to harmonise the J style of houses with the foreij The Japanese seem to like aps style houses as well. Soc have even suggested that thei of the Japanese houses will l formed into apartment hoas different from the Americg Such houses as one finds in Si Germany, are very popular i of to-day.

The latest types of occidenti ings in Japan were in Englisl sance style, according to the i of English larchitects who n first teachers of the Japanese i ing houses. After a vogue Gothic and Romantie, the "An style made its appearance, however, we see seven house built in ultra-modern styies, .the existing conditions in Japs ever, the American style eai tain its full development. Res! on the height of buildings a of capital will check the g« that tendency. Since 1927 an Internationai tectural Association of Japan l established, grouping the best sentatives of Japanese archite is hoped that through this new sation the country will find tti tectural style which is best st its peculiar conditions.