Location: Architecture Library
Speaking of Books with Yuval Zohar ’08
"Toward a Nude Architecture: A Visual Compendium of Japanese Hot Springs"
About the Book
As one of the most volcanically active geographies in the world, the islands of Japan gush with nearly 30,000 naturally occurring hot springs, or onsen, of varying temperatures, colors, and mineral compositions. When superimposed over the country’s history, their timeline winds its way through ancient religions, warring empires, medical marvels, and modern day pop-culture, forming a vital part of the national identity.
Combining photos, drawings, collages, and diagrams from over a decade of travel across the country, Towards a Nude Architecture explores this narrative through an architectural lens, presenting a visual journey of water and steam spanning centuries and geographies. In three chapters examining past, present, and future, the book looks at the spiritual roots of bathing, the diverse structures built around the tradition, and the lasting influence of this poetic mingling between architecture, nature, and the naked body. Facing declining visitors and increased privatization, compounded by recent global crises, the need to promote and preserve these bastions of public space is more crucial than ever.
About the Author
Yuval Zohar is an architect and designer working internationally. Born in Israel, raised in the United States, and having spent the majority of his career in Asia, he is currently based in Japan. He is the author of Towards a Nude Architecture, A Visual Compendium of Japanese Hot Springs, which was featured in a New York Times profile about his life the small Japanese countryside hot spring town of Yugawara.
Prior to his current role at EXP. designing physical spaces activated through AR travel games, he was a senior architect at Diller, Scofidio + Renfro in New York, a project leader at OMA New York and Hong Kong, and directing JDS architects activities in China. He spent 8 years in Shanghai contributing to the design of high-profile constructed projects including the New Jindai sustainable school, the Hangzhou Gateway, exhibitions at the Shanghai World Expo and the BMW Guggenheim Lab in Mumbai, and several awarded competitions that have been featured online and in print.
Yuval has been featured on television shows, architecture magazines, publications, and as an invited guest lecturer and panelist in academic and professional architecture events.
More information
- Website
- New York Times Feature
- Finding Friendship in Warm Waters (MAPP News Feature)