SunnyHills
Tucked into a quiet residential street in Minami-Aoyama, this striking timber structure by architect Kengo Kuma is built from an intricate lattice of interlocking hinoki cypress beams, stacked in three layers without nails or screws. The organic, nest-like facade gives you endless compositional options, from tight abstract shots of the geometric woodwork to wider frames that contrast the natural material against the surrounding urban neighborhood. A wide-angle or standard prime lens works well here, letting you get close to the texture while keeping the full form in frame. Overcast days are ideal since soft, diffused light brings out the warmth of the pale wood without harsh shadows cutting across the lattice. The building sits close to the street, so step back to the opposite side for a full façade shot, or move in close to isolate the repeating diagonal patterns for a more abstract composition. (Minato City, Tokyo, Japan)
