Author Archives: admin

Open House: Surf Shack (rescheduled)

Written by admin. Posted on October 24, 2011. Filed under talks. Tagged , , , . Comments Off.

We’ve rescheduled the open house event to Dec. 3rd. We hope this gives you more time to plan to attend. We apologize for any confusion caused.

BAKOKO Open House - Rescheduled to Dec 3rd Read More »

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Club Report: Part 1

Written by admin. Posted on September 21, 2011. Filed under Research. Tagged , , . Comments Off.

Mirror balls galoreEarlier this month we were selected as one of a group of designers from around the world to collaborate on the concept club for Heineken at Milan Design Week. This weekend, the group of Tokyo designers went on a design research exploration, touring four Tokyo clubs. Read More »

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We’re going to Milan!

Written by admin. Posted on September 10, 2011. Filed under Uncategorized. Tagged , , . 1 Comment.

BAKOKO was selected to exhibit design concepts at Milan Design Week 2012.

We were chosen as one of the winners of  the Heineken Open Design Explorations contest. The project will bring together designers from Milan, New York, São Paulo, and Tokyo to showcase their ideas in a club-themed event space.

We are looking forward to collaborating with the other selected creatives who include fashion, video, lighting, and graphic designers to craft a unique installation.

More info»

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Onjuku: Construction Update

Written by admin. Posted on September 7, 2011. Filed under on-site. Tagged , , . Comments Off.

With the exterior almost complete, there’s still a lot to do inside… Read More »

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Onujuku: Exterior Nears Completion

Written by admin. Posted on August 22, 2011. Filed under on-site. Tagged , , , , . Comments Off.

Japan timber house construction
The beach house’s exterior is nearing completion… Read More »

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Precut: Modern Japanese Timber Construction

Written by admin. Posted on August 3, 2011. Filed under Feature, on-site. Tagged , , , , , . Comments Off.

Precut – Modern Japanese Timber Construction from BAKOKO on Vimeo.

Industrially precut timber framing has become the predominant house construction method throughout Japan. In our first short documentary, we explain the process from factory floor to building site. Like so much of its traditional culture, Japan has developed a highly efficient technological adaptation of an age-old building technique.

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Onjuku: Timber Frame Erected

Written by admin. Posted on July 28, 2011. Filed under on-site. Tagged , , , , . 1 Comment.

Onjuku Beach House timber frame construction

It took only a day to erect the precut timber frame of the beach house.

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What are we building in Onjuku anyway?

Written by admin. Posted on July 17, 2011. Filed under design. Tagged , , . Comments Off.

We were recently asked to write an overview of the Onjuku beach house project for the online magazine CNNGo. Although we’ve been documenting the ongoing construction, we thought it would be a good chance to bring everyone up to speed on the project’s background….

Surf shack

The client wanted a 'surf shack'. Exterior computer rendering.

Last September we were approached by a couple wanting to build a small beach house in the seaside town of Onjuku on Chiba’s Pacific coast. The Australian husband – an keen surfer with sea salt in his blood – and his Japanese wife wanted a weekend escape from their daily grind in Tokyo.

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Tohoku: the Case for Foreign Involvement

Written by admin. Posted on July 7, 2011. Filed under Feature, Tohoku. Tagged , , , , , . Comments Off.

US Japan Buliding Partnership

What role might foreign countries be able to play in supplying some of the 95,107 buildings which were destroyed in Tohoku. Famously protectionist Japan has already come under criticism from foreigners who feel unfairly ignored when they bid to supply temporary housing. In fact, your humble architect is quoted (from a previous post) at the end of an article on the subject in today’s Independent.

The article is raising questions of Japanese cronyism in the rebuilding. In truth, I think that foreign companies are naive if they think they can jump straight into Japan. This culture never works that way. Like it or not, Japan is all about carefully cultivating longterm connections.

Unlike developing countries where natural calamities have occurred (Haiti, Indonesia, etc) there is not exactly a huge shortage in expertise or infrastructure in Japan. It is understandable that the government is a little dubious of those who come to ‘help’ in the wake of a disaster.

Nonetheless, we can’t help but point out how much sense it makes for the US and Japan to work together in rebuilding Tohoku… Read More »

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