View from the Treetops

An architecturally interesting building is a bit of a rarity in Nagoya.  Lots of utilitarian buildings with not a lot of personality.  The entire city was virtually leveled during WWII and apparently, few historic buildings survived.  Lots of brown slate or brick buildings.

The Noyori Conference Hall, named after a Nobel Prize-winning Nagoya University professor is just breathtaking.  And on the top, is a tiny neighborhood in the sky - eight little modern apartments for visiting professors with a beautiful little green space and open to the air.

We stayed in the one reserved for Dr. Noyori (though, I'm suspicious as to whether they made him scrub the floors before he left).    A two story modern loft space with a living room, tiny office nook, a kitchen and a dining area on the first floor. On the second floor, a full bath, a bedroom and a tatami room separated by rice paper sliding doors.  Really, the second floor is one big room, so we have been cohabitating as a family for 5 weeks... crazy on many levels.

I love this apartment.  The view of the Higashiyama tower and the lush university campus is lovely.  The furniture and aesthetic so Japanese in its simplicity and thoughtfulness. While I cannot imagine doing this again in a one bedroom apartment with two children, this was a beautiful space to live.

We are the first two story at the top left.

I look terrible, but they are cute cute cute.  Long day of running around.