While the Land of the Rising Sun boasts an unassailable lead in many spheres, its traditional architecture is one cultural facet of accomplishment that has won planetary recognition throughout history. Yet today, a fraction of the country’s post-war architecture has become an inevitable trade-off due to economic developments and natural disasters. And at present, several of the country’s most significant modernist gems such as the acclaimed Hotel Okura (scheduled to undergo renovation in 2015) are in peril as the country undertakes preparations for the 2020 Olympics.
As an Italian brand of genetically inscribed cultural heritage rooted in closely guarded artisan traditions, it was natural instinct for Bottega Veneta to support, celebrate and ensure continuity of these shared values that are slowly fading in importance with the passage of time. At the heart of this initiative to preserve Japan’s modernist, architectural marvels is Creative Director of Bottega Veneta, Tomas Maier, a lifelong architecture enthusiast and an ardent supporter whose commitment lies in raising awareness for, and encouraging the honoring of, these iconic, cultural landmarks.
On November 2, 2014, a symposium supported by Bottega Veneta was held at the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, where a panel of leading architects including Fumihiko Maki and Toshiko Mori alongside Docomomo Japan Representative, Hiroshi Matsukuma held discussions on Japan’s endangered Modernist Architecture. Bottega Veneta will also collaborate with Casa BRUTUS on an upcoming January 2015 issue, which will be dedicated to Japan’s Modernist architectural heritage, featuring Maier as a special contributor, with additional online content to complement.
Bottega Veneta has also created a #MyMomentAtOkura in a bid to encourage those who share the same appreciation for the Modernist gem to play a part in spreading awareness of the mastery and the magic it reflects, by way of an effortless yet meaningful gesture of sharing your moment at Okura through social media, beginning on Dec 10, 2014.
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