Shinshoji Temple: Kohtei

The Kohtei at Shinshoji Temple in Fukuyama is an architectural installation by sculptor Kohei Nawa and his studio Sandwich. The building is raised on pylons above a field of scattered rocks and shaped like the hull of a ship. Its exterior is wrapped in nearly 590,000 planks of Sawara cypress, laid in gentle curves that create a rippling effect across the surface. The roof is covered in the same wood, though darker from weathering, while the underside of the eaves remains light. Inside, Sandwich has created an installation designed to evoke the experience of Zen meditation. During busy periods there can be a queue, but the wait tends to feel appropriate given what is inside.