Origin: Japan, modern architecture and interiors that carry traditional values forward.
Modern Japanese keeps the values of the traditional house: flexible space, few possessions, bare timber and a link with greenery, but expresses them in a contemporary language. Sliding screens become glass or sliding doors, tatami shrinks to a mat corner, and built-in cupboards hide belongings so surfaces stay clear. Plain finishes, straight lines and carefully planned light are common to all of it.
In Vietnam the style suits apartments and tube houses where every square metre counts. Use light wood-grain laminate, frosted sliding doors, built-in storage and a small mat corner for tea or reading. Good ventilation is needed against humid spells, and filtering curtains help on west-facing sides. Keeping generous empty space is the most important detail of all.
