Terunobu Fujimori: Architect

The sophisticated buildings of Japanese architect Terunobu Fujimori (born 1946) combine the archaic, eccentric, poetic and the ecological--almost all of them are made of simple, traditional materials such as earth, stone, wood, coal, bark and mortar. Often referred to as a "surrealist" architect, Fujimori designs buildings that stand on stilts, rest in trees, support plant ecosystems and rise from the ground at vertiginous angles. This unique approach perhaps stems from Fujimori's early career as a successful architectural historian; he accepted his first commission at the age of 44. Buildings completed since then include teahouses, museums and private homes, known by names such as the "Dandelion House," "Charred Cedar House" and "Too-Tall Tea House." This publication explores Fujimori's career with models, drawings, architectural plans and photographs. Also documented is the construction of a teahouse designed for the garden at the Villa Stuck in Munich.