Historically, religious architecture across Japan has often possessed imported styles from other East Asian countries such as China and South Korea. However, the temples of Japan have rarely been a direct translation of their Asian counterparts due to large variations in climate, leading architects to incorporate many different materials.

With no strong roots in a historical context, the aesthetic language of Japanese temples has continually evolved over the centuries. Today, many architects designing temples in the country are beginning to focus on the future. 

When conceiving temples for both rural and urban settings, architects acknowledge the Japanese culture of innovation and experimentation, all the while embracing the age-old values of peaceful introspection and simplicity. 

This is executed by finding a nuanced balance between contrasting elements: modern materials and natural materials, light and darkness, and open and enclosed spaces.

The following seven projects showcase a truly diverse range of architectural styles for the same programming and intentions. 

These structures illustrate that temple architecture in Japan continues to evolve, but continues to evoke an atmosphere that chimes with the timeless values of the country.

Originally writen by architizer and most pictures collected from pinterest