Booklub | In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki (1993)

Our first GSA Booklub session explored Jun’ichiro Tanizaki’s In Praise of Shadows through the theme of observation, reflecting on how architecture shapes what we see, notice, and experience.

The discussion looked beyond light and darkness to consider thresholds, materiality, atmosphere, concealment, and the sensory qualities of space. Tanizaki’s reflections offered an opportunity to think about architecture not merely as something we inhabit, but as a medium that actively constructs perception.

A reflective evening of reading, observation, and conversation on how light influences our experience of architecture and its spaces.