The Words for Architecture is an endeavor by poets and writers to
celebrate and spotlight residential architecture created by architects with deep experience in the field.

A book documenting the “The Words for Architecture” exhibition, held at WHAT MUSEUM in 2020–2021, has now been published. To commemorate the publication, a selection of works from the “The Words for Architecture” exhibition are displayed at the event space in ARCHI-DEPOT.

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In his “Housing – An Essay” (“Jutaku essei”), poet and architect Tachihara Michizo divides architecture into three categories: residential architecture, public or commemorative architecture, and industrial architecture. Of residential architecture, Tachihara writes:

Think of life as a hollow ball. Doesn’t it seem that, through that ball, the essay and the house touch each other in a manner something like this: the spirit of the house wraps over the surface of the ball, while the spirit of the essay attempts to envelop the surface of the concave interior space within the hollow ball.

*Source of the poem:
The Complete Works of Tachihara Michizo, Chikumashobo

In “The Words for Architecture,” inspired by Tachihara’s spirit, we explore through works of literature the atmosphere found in houses created by architects who have consistently engaged with the essence of housing, as well as the very nature of spaces that stir the senses.

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◇ Dates
October 3 [Sat], 2026 – January 31 [Sun]

◇ Opening ours
Tue-Sun 11:00 – 18:00 (admission until 17:00)
*Closed on Mondays *If a national holiday falls on a Monday the museum will be open, and Tuesday will be closed instead.
*Closed on New Year’s Holidays
*Closed on October 9 [Fri], 2026

◇ Venue
WHAT MUSEUM ARCHI-DEPOT
(G bldg 2-6-10 Higashishinagawa Shinagawa-ku Tokyo)

◇ Tickets
ARCHI-DEPOT Ticket
Adults 900 yen / University / Vocational School Student 700 yen / Junior High & High School Students 500 yen / Elementary School Students or younger Free
*Gurutto Pass not applicable
　
　

Works introduced on the book

The book “The Words for Architecture” is available at WHAT MUSEUM ARCHI-DEPOT shop, with only 200 copies (2200 yen, incl. tax)!

Michizo Tachihara (Architect / Poet)
Shinohara Kazuo (Architect) × Tanikawa Shuntaro (Poet)
Yoshimura Junzo (Architect) × Hachikai Mimi (Poet)
Azuma Takamitsu (Architect) × Akegata Misei (Poet)
Masuko Yoshihiro (Architect) × Minesawa Noriko (Poet)
Nagata Masahito (Architect) × Nakamura Tsukiko(Lyricist, composer, singer)
Tanaka Toshihiro (Architect) × Okamoto Kei (Poet)
Nakamura Yoshifumi (Architect) × Koike Masayo (Poet)
Ito Hiroshi (Architect) × Kaku Wakako (Lyricist, poet, musician)
Takano Yasumitsu (Architect) × Takagai Hiroya (Poet)
Horibe Yasushi (Architect) × Sugimoto Maiko (Poet)
Nousaku Fuminori, Tsuneyama Mio (Architect) × Nagatsuka Keishi (Playwright, Director, Actor)
Shinohara Meiri (Architect) × Kanie Naha (Poet)
Sato Kengo (Architect) × Nilanjan Bandyopadhyay (Poet)
Mishina Naoya, Mishina Asuka (Architect) × Yotsumoto Yasuhiro (Poet)