Mariko Mori is an internationally acclaimed artist recognized for a point of view that explores universal questions at the intersection of life, death, reality, and technology. Producing works that span photography, film, and performance art, her peculiar connection and coexistence with art transcend in all dimensions, including the residence she designed for herself on the Japanese island of Miyako.
Built in partnership with Tokyo-based Ring Architects, the pearlescent abode, dubbed “Yuputira House” inspired by the local sun god, exists in harmony with its natural surroundings. A popular destination between Japan and Taiwan, Miyako boasts white sandy beaches, coral reefs, and a balmy climate. To complete the project, Mori spent more than five years observing the landscape and natural light, constructing 3D models to ensure the structure honored the locale.
“To live on the island is to cultivate humility,” Mori told Architectural Digest. “When the typhoon comes, you surrender. Nature—the ocean, the sun—is such a powerful force. Worshipping the gods of nature is very primal for the islanders. It is part of everyday life.”
The result is a spherical masterpiece that at once blends with its surroundings, while standing out among the landscape as a habitable piece of art. In addition to the primary bedroom on the ground floor, two guest rooms, and ample living spaces (including a room for tea ceremonies), the building is also Mori’s studio space and, in many ways, a direct extension of her artistic work.
Following a “transformative spiritual experience” in 1998, Mori only dresses in the color white. Yuputira House follows this aesthetic choice with white concrete walls, which Mori personally mixed to her liking, white-coated concrete floors, and an assembly of minimal white furnishings. All of which allow the impressive architecture and artistic vision of the space to take center stage.
Photography by Yoshihiro Makino.
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