Constructed Other: Japanese Architecture in the Western Mind

<p><em>The Constructed Other</em> argues that the assumed otherness of Japanese architecture has made it both a testbed for Western architectural theories and a source of inspiration for Western designers. The book traces three recurring themes in Western accounts of Japanese architecture from the reopening of Japan in the mid-nineteenth century to the present day: a wish to see Western architectural theories reflected in Japanese buildings; efforts to integrate elements of Japanese architecture into Western buildings; and a desire to connect contemporary Japanese architecture with Japanese tradition. It is suggested that together these narratives have had the effect of creating what amounts to a mythical version of Japanese architecture often at odds with historical fact but which has exercised a powerful influence on the development of building design internationally. </p>