Naomi Pollock is an American author and architect who writes about design in Japan. She spent over three decades in Japan and lived in different parts of Tokyo: Shimouma, Nanpeidai, Moto Azabu, Minami Azabu, and, finally, Minami Aoyama. Beginning her academic pursuits as a Classics major at Dartmouth College in 1981, where her focus lay in archaeology, Pollock later found herself drawn to architecture. Encouraged to pursue her passion, she obtained a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Pollock went on to work a few years at a design firm in New York. They relocated to Japan during this time since her partner got a job opportunity in Tokyo. She seized this opportunity to apply to the Japanese Government for a scholarship, commencing a new chapter in her life as a graduate student at Tokyo University.
Pollock’s Works
Naomi Pollock’s career as an architect and author can be defined through a series of publications about the design and architecture of Japan. Pollock’s first article ‘Letter Home from Tokyo’ was published in the early 1990s. Pollock was encouraged to write the article when a friend of hers who is an editor for a magazine in New York asked her to write an article for their publication. This article in the Metropolis Magazine started her role as an author. She has ever since written consistently about Japanese architecture, covering a wide range of subjects including profiles of designers, product design, historical matters, and urban issues. One of her common threads focussed on contemporary buildings.
Her first standalone book ‘The Modern Japanese House’ in 2003 might mark the beginning of her journey offering a curated selection of 25 houses meticulously compiled from her graduate studies. Building upon this foundation, Pollock went on to author eight books, each offering unique insights into various aspects of Japanese design. Pollock’s works include ‘Modern Japanese House’, ‘Made in Japan: 100 New Products’, ‘Juataku: Japanese Houses’, ‘Sou Fujimoto’, and ‘Japanese Design Since 1945: A Complete Sourcebook.’ Beyond her books, Pollock has co-authored significant works such as ‘New Architecture in Japan’ and contributed to seminal publications like ‘Architecture: The Whole Story’ and ‘Shigeru Ban: Humanitarian Architecture’. Pollock also served as an editor for publications like ‘NUNO: Visionary Japanese Textiles’. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including A+U, Dwell, Jutakutokushu, Wallpaper, and Architectural Record.
First Impressions on Japanese Design
When Naomi Pollock first laid eyes on the houses of Tokyo, she couldn’t help but wonder why they appeared so peculiar. As an American, the shift in landscapes and architectural styles immediately caught her attention. The streets of Tokyo seemed to defy conventional order, with their inconsistent walls, oddly shaped roofs, and a cityscape devoid of familiar landmarks like parks or waterfronts. It all felt chaotic to her, lacking the geometric harmony she was accustomed to. Her academic mentor, Professor Hiroshi Hara, offered a unique perspective. Professor Hara urged Pollock to explore the interplay between tradition and contemporary, suggesting that learning about the old could help understand the new.
Pollock later spent her time working on her master’s thesis on Minka farmhouses built all over Japan, as an attempt to understand the architecture. She found it to be fascinating and relevant to her desire to understand Japanese architecture, but it did not fully satisfy her original question. It was her immersion in open house events, or kengakukai, that truly brought clarity. Having found that she had plenty of free time as a student, Pollock attended many open house events hosted by the architects before handing over the building to the clients. These gatherings allowed her to engage with architects, clients, and fellow enthusiasts, providing invaluable insights into the ethos and evolution of Japanese design. Through these experiences, Pollock’s journey into Japanese architecture became not just an academic pursuit, but a deeply human exploration of culture, tradition, and innovation.
Ideologies
Naomi Pollock’s perspective on Japanese architecture is deeply intertwined with her values of finding beauty in quality and experience. Studying at a Japanese university enabled her to have more of an insider’s perspective as opposed to an outsider looking in. She found herself in a unique situation where she could compare the two educational systems and architecture programs. She emphasizes the contrast between Japanese architectural principles and mainstream American ideals. She challenges the notion that bigger is better, highlighting Japanese design that the quality of space transcends its quantity. Pollock suggests that people could circumspect about how much space people really need to make a house a home, and it wouldn’t actually be very much. In her writings, Pollock also focuses on enduring ideas rather than fleeting trends. Her emphasis lies not only on the physical aspects of buildings but also on the lived experience they offer. She believes in the magic of Tokyo, finding beauty in its intricate details rather than its grand scale. When asked about her admiration for Japanese design, Pollock praises the meticulous attention to detail and the commitment to quality craftsmanship. She marvels at how this ethos infuses every aspect of Japanese life, from large-scale buildings to everyday objects like tea kettles. For Pollock, Japanese architecture is not just about aesthetics; it’s about a profound connection between people, spaces, and the materials that shape them.
More than just architectural documentation, Naomi Pollock’s works serve as a window into the Japanese way of life, societal values, culture, and design. Through her insightful exploration and analysis of Japanese design, she transcends buildings, offering profound insights into the essence of Japanese identity and ethos. Her ideologies intertwine seamlessly with her deep appreciation for the subtleties of Japanese design, as she continues to illuminate the profound connections between architecture and culture. With each project and publication, Pollock not only celebrates the beauty and functionality of Japanese architecture but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for its profound cultural significance.
Bibliography:
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (2014) Naomi Pollock, writer, author made in Japan: 100 new products, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWQ3q_Lu3D0 (Accessed: 17 March 2024).
Asia Society (2024) Exceptional Japanese houses: Residential design from 1945 to the present, YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8XCW_EwAb0 (Accessed: 17 March 2024).
Welton, M. (2024) The Japanese House since 1945, by Naomi Pollock, Architects + Artisans. Available at: https://architectsandartisans.com/blog/the-japanese-house-since-1945-by-naomi-pollock/ (Accessed: 15 March 2024).
Random Pursuits (2023) Naomi Pollock’s favorite things, japonica.info. Available at: http://japonica.info/naomi-pollocks-favorite-things-2/ (Accessed: 15 March 2024).
About (2022) Naomi Pollock, FAIA. Available at: https://naomipollock.net/about/ (Accessed: 14 March 2024).
Wellman, L.A. (2024) Japan through Naomi Pollock Perspective, RTF | Rethinking The Future. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a11965-japan-through-naomi-pollock-perspective/ (Accessed: 15 March 2024).
Hutchison, K. (2023) Design me a house podcast: Inspirations: The Japanese aesthetic with architect/author Naomi Pollock, Design Me a House. Available at: https://www.designmeahouse.com/home/inspirations-the-japanese-aesthetic-with-naomi-pollock-season-2-episode-1 (Accessed: 14 March 2024).
E-Japan Journal (ed.) (2022) Architecture, Design & The People Behind it, E-Japan Journal. Available at: https://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100310781.pdf (Accessed: 17 March 2024).
