A long, horizontal block is hoisted above the ground on a collection of concrete pods, providing views of paddy fields and mountains for the home, gallery and studio of an embroidery artist in Japan's Shiga Prefecture (+ slideshow). More about Satoru Hirota Architects creates a "floating" home and gallery for an embroidery artist
A matrix of disorientating translucent and mirrored partitions frame the individual booths of this hairdressing salon in Japan by Takehiko Nez Architects (+ slideshow). More about Takehiko Nez divides up a hair salon with mirrors, translucent screens and plants
The Japanese island of Miyako-jima is prone to frequent typhoons, so this kindergarten was planned by studios Hibino Sekkei and Youji no Shiro to offer children protection from heavy rain and flying debris (+ slideshow). More about Hanazono Kindergarten designed to endure typhoons and offer outdoor play spaces
Chinese studio MAD has unveiled its design for a kindergarten enshrouded beneath a cloak of asphalt shingles, which is now under construction in Japan's Aichi Prefecture. More about MAD to drape new skin over a house "like a piece of cloth" to transform it into a nursery
This house in Tokyo was constructed using an industrially manufactured steel framework and cladding, making it look more like a factory than a residence (+ slideshow). More about Niji Architects uses steel components to build factory-like Boundary House
Japanese architect Kouichi Kimura chose grey steel sheets for the exterior of this office and apartment building in Shiga, giving it an armoured appearance (+ slideshow). More about Live-work block in Japan by Kouichi Kimura features a steel-plated facade
Tato Architects has replaced all of the walls inside a traditional Japanese house with curving plywood screens (+ slideshow). More about Tato Architects updates a traditional Japanese house with a curved plywood interior
Tokyo architecture studio Suppose Design Office has repurposed old scaffold boards to create flooring and furniture for the concrete interior of its own atelier space (+ slideshow). More about Suppose Design Office's Tokyo studio mixes concrete, steel and reclaimed wood
Over 100 wooden transport pallets were broken down to create floorboards, wall coverings and furniture for a temporary office space in Tokyo (+ slideshow). More about Hiroki Tominaga Atelier uses deconstructed pallets to dress a Tokyo office in planks of timber
Multi-levelled surfaces of polished concrete, wood and white gravel mark out the different areas within this open-plan Tokyo office designed by Torafu Architects (+ slideshow). More about Torafu Architects uses concrete, wood and gravel to define spaces inside AKQA's Tokyo offices
The faceted metal surfaces of this addition to a dairy farmer's house in the Japanese city of Sodegaura fold around a courtyard that connects it with the original building (+ slideshow). More about Architects Teehouse adds an angular steel-clad home to a Japanese dairy farm
Children's play areas located beneath the zigzag roof of this community centre by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma have been landscaped to form a hilly indoor terrain that can be clambered over or used as slides (+ slideshow). More about Community centre by Kengo Kuma features playrooms with undulating floorboards
The four blocks that make up this house in Japan all feature different kinds of windows, designed by architect Kazuki Moroe to offer varying perspectives of a neighbouring Shinto shrine (+ slideshow). More about House in Japan designed by Kazuki Moroe to respect the shrine next door
This small hair salon in Osaka features a series of ceiling hooks that allow the owner to rearrange the mirrors and shelves that help define the space (+ slideshow). More about Mirrors hang from cables in Japanese hair salon by Sides Core
This Japanese family home by FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects is arranged as a series of framed spaces, with the ground floor dominated by an art gallery and workspace (+ slideshow). More about Kouichi Kimura's Framing House combines a home and a gallery
Sections of wall appear to hang from the ceiling of this former warehouse club in Tokyo, which was converted into offices by local studio Sasaki Architecture (+ slideshow). More about Sasaki Architecture converts Japanese disco into offices with floating walls
A huge staircase interspersed with trees winds up to the entrance of this former Tokyo warehouse that Kengo Kuma and Associates has converted into a lifestyle store and cafe (+ slideshow). More about Kengo Kuma uses a grand staircase to transform a Tokyo warehouse into a shop
Tufts of brightly coloured electrical cabling give the walls and furniture of this bar by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma a hairy appearance (+ slideshow). More about Matted electric cables cover the surfaces of a Tokyo bar by Kengo Kuma
Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has built a transparent glass tea house beside a historic Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan (+ slideshow). More about Tokujin Yoshioka installs glass tea house beside an ancient Japanese temple
A glazed corridor climbs up around the exterior of this Japan office building, intended by architect Masato Sekiya to create the impression that the structure has been "cut in half by glass" (+ slideshow). More about Masato Sekiya wraps a glass corridor around an office block in Japan