‘A maniac for beauty’ – the architectural vision of Toru Shimokawa

For a few brief moments, the entrance to Toru Shimokawa’s home in Kurume looks, smells and feels recognisably – almost classically – Japanese. The mixture of light and dark woods; the waft of cedar and plum blossom, the hard-fought quest for insularity amid the tight jostle of neighbouring houses. No traditions feel in immediate danger of being broken. Shoes are removed at the tiled genkan entranceway before the high, deliberately disconnective step onto tatami; a knee-level ikebana…