Documentary backdrop image for Kochuu (2003)

Documentary backdrop image for Kochuu (2003)

200352 minNot Rateddocumentary

6.5/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

Kochuu

200352 minNot Rateddocumentary

6.5/ 10(2 ratings)• TMDB

Four renowned Japanese architects discuss their vision of blending modern design with traditional philosophies in a 52-minute documentary.

Genres

Director

Jesper Wachtmeister

Synopsis

Four renowned Japanese architects discuss their vision of blending modern design with traditional philosophies in a 52-minute documentary.

People

Jesper Wachtmeisterdirector

Jesper Wachtmeisterwriter

Tadao Ando

Sverre Fehn

Sverre Fehncast

Synopsis

Tadao Ando and Kisho Kurokawa, two prominent Japanese architects, discuss the blend of modern design with traditional Japanese principles in Kochuu. The film features their insights alongside those of Scandinavian architects like Sverre Fehn and Juhani Pallasmaa. Set against a backdrop of concrete structures and serene gardens, the documentary illustrates how cultural exchanges between Japan and Nordic countries influence architectural practices. It runs for 52 minutes and was directed by Jesper Wachtmeister in 2003.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (3/3) (2019)

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (3/3)

After 100 years, the ideals of the Bauhaus remain relevant, influencing modern design and urban planning in response to issues like climate change and urbanization.

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (3/3)

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (2/3) (2019)

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (2/3)

Bauhaus was forced to shut down in 1933 when Hitler seized power, leading many of its artists and architects to emigrate and spread its principles worldwide.

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus (2/3)

16 Jaw-Dropping Architectural Marvels (2021)

16 Jaw-Dropping Architectural Marvels

A 147-foot high central building, nicknamed the nut, supports two performance auditoriums in a concert hall designed by Santiago Calatrava.

16 Jaw-Dropping Architectural Marvels

Arthur Erickson (2023)

Arthur Erickson

Arthur Erickson reflects on architecture's impact on perception while discussing his notable projects, including the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 70 and designs in Saudi Arabia.

Arthur Erickson

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya (2025)

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya

In Kyoto, traditional machiya houses exemplify Japan's architectural heritage with their wooden structures, tatami floors, and inner gardens that reflect a harmonious lifestyle.

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya

Coast Modern (2024)

Coast Modern

West Coast Modernist architecture is celebrated through the legacies of its pioneers, showcasing their unique connection to nature and design along the Pacific Northwest.

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi (2025)

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi

In ancient Greece, the Oracle of Delphi served as a pivotal religious site where priestesses delivered prophecies attributed to the god Apollo.

Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi

Crafting History: Stained Glass Art (2022)

Crafting History: Stained Glass Art

Rowan LeCompte and Dieter Goldkuhle create their final stained glass windows for Washington National Cathedral, showcasing a 1,500-year-old Christian craft.

Crafting History: Stained Glass Art

The Secrets of Versailles: Building the World's Greatest Palace (2026)

The Secrets of Versailles: Building the World's Greatest Palace

The Palace of Versailles, a monumental achievement of French kings Louis XIII, Louis XIV, and Louis XVI, showcases extraordinary engineering and architectural innovation over three centuries.

The Secrets of Versailles: Building the World's Greatest Palace

Inside the Palacio Real, Madrid | Museum Secrets 15/22 (2025)

Inside the Palacio Real, Madrid | Museum Secrets 15/22

Inside the Palacio Real in Madrid, a clock powered by witchcraft and the actions of King Felipe VI against fascism reveal the palace's hidden secrets.

Inside the Palacio Real, Madrid | Museum Secrets 15/22

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish? (2026)

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish?

Chichén Itzá, a once-thriving Maya city in Mexico, showcases remarkable structures like El Caracol and El Castillo while exploring the reasons behind its sudden decline.

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish?

Inside The Perfectly Preserved 17th Century Castle Home To Scottish Nobility (2025)

Inside The Perfectly Preserved 17th Century Castle Home To Scottish Nobility

Fourteen million people worldwide claim descent from Clan Campbell, the family that has lived at Inveraray Castle for generations.

Inside The Perfectly Preserved 17th Century Castle Home To Scottish Nobility

Explore Kochuu

Cast & Crew Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

Coast Modern (2024)

Coast Modern

West Coast Modernist architecture is celebrated through the legacies of its pioneers, showcasing their unique connection to nature and design along the Pacific Northwest.

No digital watch option in your country

Japan: 3 Generations of Avant-Garde Architects (1989)

Japan: 3 Generations of Avant-Garde Architects

1989•56m•★10.0TMDB

Six influential architects, including Tadao Ando and Kazuyo Sejima, reshape Japanese architecture by blending traditional styles with modern materials.

Japan: 3 Generations of Avant-Garde Architects

Architecton (2024)

Architecton

2024•1h38m•★5.8TMDB

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in early 2023 caused significant destruction in Turkey, prompting reflections on architecture and societal values.

Aalto (2020)

Aalto

2020•1h43m•★6.1TMDB

Aino and Alvar Aalto's influential partnership in modern architecture and design is explored through their collaborative projects and personal bond, featuring insights from Heikki Färm and Elissa Aalto.

Just Meet (2019)

Just Meet

2019•53m•★5.5TMDB

Tadao Ando reflects on his architectural philosophy and the construction of Casa Wabi in Mexico, highlighting his commitment to craftsmanship and artistic influences.

Architectures (1996)

Architectures

1996•26m•★4.9TMDB

Significant buildings in American cities illustrate architectural styles from the late 19th century to modern designs and their effects on society.

Cathedrals of Culture (2014)

Cathedrals of Culture

2014•2h45m•★5.7TMDB

Six iconic buildings narrate their own stories, including the Berlin Philharmonic and Halden Prison, in this 165-minute 3D film project.

Cathedrals of Culture

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes (2025)

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes

Bettany Hughes explores the architectural achievements and cultural significance of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, including the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes

Browse more like this

Arthur Erickson (2023)

Arthur Erickson

Arthur Erickson reflects on architecture's impact on perception while discussing his notable projects, including the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 70 and designs in Saudi Arabia.

Arthur Erickson

No digital watch option in your country

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya (2025)

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya

In Kyoto, traditional machiya houses exemplify Japan's architectural heritage with their wooden structures, tatami floors, and inner gardens that reflect a harmonious lifestyle.

Paper-Thin Houses: Living Inside a Machiya

No digital watch option in your country

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish? (2026)

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish?

Chichén Itzá, a once-thriving Maya city in Mexico, showcases remarkable structures like El Caracol and El Castillo while exploring the reasons behind its sudden decline.

Why Did The Greatest Maya City Suddenly Vanish?

No digital watch option in your country

Tokio - Die Stadtkultur von morgen (2021)

Tokio - Die Stadtkultur von morgen

2021•27m•★7.0TMDB

Tokyo, the largest city in the world, is redefining its urban culture by advocating for traditional building techniques to create a sustainable environment.

Tokio - Die Stadtkultur von morgen

An Artisan's Legacy: Tsunekazu Nishioka (2012)

An Artisan's Legacy: Tsunekazu Nishioka

2012•1h28m•★6.0TMDB

Two major projects include the repairs of Horyuji Temple and the reconstruction of Yakushi Temple, both significant in traditional Japanese architecture.

An Artisan's Legacy: Tsunekazu Nishioka

Alvar Aalto: Technology and Nature (1987)

Alvar Aalto: Technology and Nature

1987•59m•★6.0TMDB

Alvar Aalto's architectural legacy is explored through his innovative designs in Finland, Italy, Germany, and the USA, emphasizing the harmony between technology and nature.

Alvar Aalto: Technology and Nature

Chateaux of the Loire: Royal Visit (2018)

Chateaux of the Loire: Royal Visit

Chambord contains 77 stairwells and 282 chimneys in the Loire Valley, known for its castles built by kings and noblemen over three centuries.

Chateaux of the Loire: Royal Visit

Legends of the Pharaohs (2021)

Legends of the Pharaohs

Over a century, thousands of workers dedicated their lives to constructing the pyramids and the Great Sphinx at Giza in ancient Egypt.

Legends of the Pharaohs

Browse more by Jesper Wachtmeister

View all films →

Microtopia (2013)

Microtopia

2013

Great Expectations: A Journey Through the History of Visionary Architecture (2007)

Great Expectations: A Journey Through the History of Visionary Architecture

2007

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →