Inside the Japanese House: Part iII

Tuesday, November 14th, 2023

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT

About the Event:

The Japan Society of Boston is proud to present, Inside the Japanese House, a three part series exploring traditional Japanese homes through the lens of Architecture, Culture, and Handcraft. The series will be hosted by Adam Zgola, a carpenter specialized in traditional Japanese wooden construction with over two decades of experience in Japan.       

Our final part of the series will continue our conversation from the previous parts, as well as a broader conversation about the art of traditional Japanese handcraft, exploring concepts including wabisabi and mingei. Although these ideas are usually viewed as uniquely Japanese, Adam will share how their universal sentiments can be employed to better understand our own connection with objects and spaces. Within the context of our growing concerns for sustainability on this planet, this dialogue can help us reevaluate what it means to cherish an object or space using the Japanese house as a clear example.

Please join us for this very special one-of-a-kind seminar series. This is a free, hour long presentation with Q&A hosted on zoom. 

About The Speaker:

Adam Zgola specializes in Japanese wooden construction. Trained as a craftsman through a Japanese apprenticeship, his understanding of traditional architecture benefits from an access to generations of accumulated wisdom. Having spent 21 years studying and building in Japan, Adam is sensitive to the cultural and environmental influences that shaped this iconic architecture.

He is active in the protection of historical buildings through restoration efforts and educational programs. As well, Adam is committed to maintaining the relevance of traditional skills and methods by applying them successfully in a modern context.

As a philosophy, he feels that it is important to return to the idea of the house as handcraft; a more sustainable and holistic understanding which fosters a deeper connections with the spaces in which we live, grow, and raise our families.

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