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A week in the extraordinary-ordinary life of an enlightened Japanese amateur of art, architecture and music, who lives in one of the most famous creations of contemporary Japanese architecture, the Moriyama house, built in Tokyo in 2005 by Pritzker-prize winner Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA).
The documentary follows the life of Mr. Moriyama, the owner, and occupant of Moriyama House. Situated in Tokyo, Japan, the house is one of the most influential in Japanese contemporary architecture. Minimal white volumes - each differing in size - create a complex streetscape between the varying functions of the house, while the multiple entrances are unified by the unique spaces in-between.
Introduced into the intimacy of this experimental microcosm which redefines completely the common sense of domestic life, Ila Bêka recounts in a very spontaneous and personal way the unique personality of the owner: an urban hermit living in a small archipelago of peace and contemplation in the heart of Tokyo. From noise music to experimental movies, the film lets us enter into the ramifications of Mr. Moriyama’s free spirit.
For more than fifteen years, the artist-videographer, producer and editor duo Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine - aka Bêka & Lemoine - have been making their mark on the international architectural scene with a body of work renowned for its innovative nature and tender yet caustic humour.
Their films break with the usual representations of contemporary architecture by giving centre stage to both its uses and people. In particular, they examine the roots of architectural practice and the way in which the environment feeds our imagination. Made famous by their film Koolhaas Houselife, they are also known for their video collection/series Living Architecture, which was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2016, and their films are regularly selected for major festivals, museums and art centres.