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I live in Japan, I don’t really find most day to day architecture to be “stunning” but on the other hand I think it remains aesthetic thanks to the people and t

I live in Japan, I don’t really find most day to day architecture to be “stunning” but on the other hand I think it remains aesthetic thanks to the people and the integration of the whole urban form, not its individual buildings. Western cities usually do have nicer looking (but less functional) architecture.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
tus666 4y ago
I think the low-key, unique, quirky and tranquil aesthetic is what people find stunning about urban Japan.
- ajmurmann 4y ago
  I think some of it also the absence of cars in places you'd see them in the west. In particular absence of parked cars. I didn't realize that that was part of it till I learned that street parking is highly restricted in Japan and now I cannot unsee it. Similarly the tiny backstreets are super charming and also not car friendly. It's human friendly though. Edit: another thing that really sticks out as adding to the charm is the more diverse usage of building space. You might find businesses on floors other than the ground floor and many of them are much smaller than you'd ever find a similar business in Europe and especially not the US. It gives a feeling that there are always things to discover.
  - SECProto 4y ago
    The no-street-parking thing goes hand in hand with another restriction: you have to prove you have an off-street parking space within a short distance (I seem to recall 800m when I was registering, but internet suggests 2km) of your residence. If you don't, you can't buy a white plate vehicle. Ownership of vehicles is much more regulated than north america
  - presentation 4y ago
    Agreed on the smaller businesses - I love that aspect and always wondered if a faked version of that in NYC or something (subdivide a typical restaurant space into a number of 6-10 seater counter bars like you'd find in Japan) would take off.
    - ajmurmann 4y ago
      I wonder if the overhead in the US somehow makes small businesses like that not viable. Maybe there is something here about minimum needed profit to even live? I don't see any good reason why it's so rare to have businesses on more floors. I wonder if it's a zoning or simply a cultural thing.
      - adam_arthur 4y ago
        NYC has some retail shops on upper levels of buildings. I'd guess foot traffic is significantly lower, but rent should account for that
pronlover723 4y ago
the "average" building / neighborhood in Japan is pretty ugly or at least super bland but there is amazing exceptions all over and of course all the parks, temples, gardens, forests, and other things.
- presentation 4y ago
  It's true - as well as the occasional eccentric piece of architecture randomly in an otherwise standard neighborhood. There are also certain neighborhoods that really do have a lot of nice buildings (the area around Komaba Todaimae comes to mind) but that is the exception not the norm.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

tus666 4y ago

I think the low-key, unique, quirky and tranquil aesthetic is what people find stunning about urban Japan.

ajmurmann 4y ago
I think some of it also the absence of cars in places you'd see them in the west. In particular absence of parked cars. I didn't realize that that was part of it till I learned that street parking is highly restricted in Japan and now I cannot unsee it. Similarly the tiny backstreets are super charming and also not car friendly. It's human friendly though. Edit: another thing that really sticks out as adding to the charm is the more diverse usage of building space. You might find businesses on floors other than the ground floor and many of them are much smaller than you'd ever find a similar business in Europe and especially not the US. It gives a feeling that there are always things to discover.
- SECProto 4y ago
  The no-street-parking thing goes hand in hand with another restriction: you have to prove you have an off-street parking space within a short distance (I seem to recall 800m when I was registering, but internet suggests 2km) of your residence. If you don't, you can't buy a white plate vehicle. Ownership of vehicles is much more regulated than north america
- presentation 4y ago
  Agreed on the smaller businesses - I love that aspect and always wondered if a faked version of that in NYC or something (subdivide a typical restaurant space into a number of 6-10 seater counter bars like you'd find in Japan) would take off.
  - ajmurmann 4y ago
    I wonder if the overhead in the US somehow makes small businesses like that not viable. Maybe there is something here about minimum needed profit to even live? I don't see any good reason why it's so rare to have businesses on more floors. I wonder if it's a zoning or simply a cultural thing.
    - adam_arthur 4y ago
      NYC has some retail shops on upper levels of buildings. I'd guess foot traffic is significantly lower, but rent should account for that

pronlover723 4y ago

the "average" building / neighborhood in Japan is pretty ugly or at least super bland but there is amazing exceptions all over and of course all the parks, temples, gardens, forests, and other things.

presentation 4y ago
It's true - as well as the occasional eccentric piece of architecture randomly in an otherwise standard neighborhood. There are also certain neighborhoods that really do have a lot of nice buildings (the area around Komaba Todaimae comes to mind) but that is the exception not the norm.