Designed by ON design partners, FIKA is a home that converts into a weekend shop selling scandinavian collectibles. Separated by a full-height white shelving unit, the shop and the home merge into a single space creating a unique and intimate shopping experience…

There is something truly beautiful and mysterious about old photographs. For me, they are an endless source of inspiration and intrigue. Needless to say, I’ve fallen in love with these dream-like images of Japan from 1886, documented by Italian photographer Adolfo Farsari (1841-1898). Fasari’s work was highly regarded during his time, particularly for his hand-coloured portraits and landscapes like the ones I’m sharing with you today…

The Optical Glass House was designed by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP and it was completed in March 2012. Located on a busy residential street in downtown Hiroshima in Japan, the house features a glittering facade of suspended glass blocks that creates privacy and tranquility on the bustling urban street filled with cars and trams…

…And so I leave you with these stunning images of the mesmerising light tunnel in Japan called ‘Winter Illuminations’. This event takes place each year at Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden on the island of Nagashima in Kuwana. This light show uses millions of sparkling LEDs, and it runs from early November through to end of March. Isn’t it just incredible? I thought it was the most fitting way to mark this silly season, and wish you a sparkling New Year and Extremely Happy Holidays…

Hiroshima based UID Architects studio was founded in 2003 by Keisuke Maeda. Clearly an advocate of designing in section and 3D, every project pushes the boundaries of solid and void, inside and outside, public and private. I think this is what happens when architecture and landscape architecture make babies…