Towards a Nude Architecture

As one of the most volcanically active geographies in the world, the islands of Japan gush with nearly 30,000 naturally occurring hot springs, or onsen, of varying temperatures, colors, and mineral compositions. When superimposed over the country’s history, their timeline winds its way through ancient religions, warring empires, medical marvels, and modern day pop-culture, forming a vital part of the national identity.

Combining photos, drawings, collages, and diagrams from over a decade of travel across the country, Towards a Nude Architecture explores this narrative through an architectural lens, presenting a visual journey of water and steam spanning centuries and geographies. In three chapters examining past, present, and future, the book looks at the spiritual roots of bathing, the diverse structures built around the tradition, and the lasting influence of this poetic mingling between architecture, nature, and the naked body. Facing declining visitors and increased privatization, compounded by recent global crises, the need to promote and preserve these bastions of public space is more crucial than ever.

In the media
> ‘Yuval Zohar . . . Call him the nude dude: His passion for hot springs, or “onsen,” . . . unfolds in dramatic detail in his recent book’ - The New York Times
> 'With Towards a Nude Architecture, Yuval Zohar charts the thermal pulse of a culture, and in doing so, reveals how architecture can rescue our most elemental ways of being together.' - designboom
> 'Yuval Zohar has brought together his personal experiences and vast knowledge of onsen in a visually striking, beautifully written and highly informative book.' - Nikkei Asia
> 'A truly brilliant read that offers deep insights into a cultural phenomenon and the architecture it gave birth to.' - Biblio Philio
> ‘Nightclubs are becoming a thing of the past, Generation Z is choosing a new way out.’ - Vogue
> 'Towards a Nude Architecture is the documentation of a monomaniacal odyssey.' - EnVols