Un-Conscious-City

This book has the feel of a reader, to be taken on travels; but uses a lightweight paper with a low opacity, so it’s shine through, to emphasize the dreamlike condition of Tokyo. That city is a blueprint for the future, according the architect. The page numbers are replaced by time. Every chapter consists out of 72 minutes. These 72 minutes are based upon the maximum travel distance within each continent in the future, and oscillate within every chapter. The element of time and frozen images that are printed on the inside of the Japanese bound pages gives one a feeling between sleeping and wake; snooze. When teach chapter finishes, time ticks and one only sees white pages. The last photo of the visual essays in between each chapter is printed on the inside, as well, to play with the opacity of the paper. Readers think it’s the next photo shining through but in fact it’s a mirrored photo on the inside of the Japanese binding, to mislead. The cover is printed with a burnt wood texture in two tones of black; a direct link to old Japanese houses that have a burnt façades to protect their wood from the weather conditions. Thus, the print protects the book.

Year	2019
Client	Wiel Arets Architects
Location	Tokyo, JP
Publisher	Actar
Printer	Lenoirschuring