In conjunction with the long awaited opening of the Ghibli Park in Aichi, Japan on the 1st of November 2022,
Japanese lifestyle/design magazine Casa Brutus (カーサ ブルータス) published a special feature in their December 22 issue dedicated to the architectural design of Studio Ghibli.

The contents ( which cover about 1/2 of the total page count of the magazine ) include a huge collection of beautiful photographs that really showcase the amazing real-life reproductions of iconic locations from some of Studio Ghibli’s most famous animated films like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Whisper Of The Heart, Ponyo and more. There’s also a wonderfully illustrated cross-sectional map of the park, as well as an interview with Ghibli Museum director Goro Miyazaki on the architecture of Ghibli Park.

Also included is an interview with Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki where he talks about the architectural design of Studio Ghibli’s films.

Even if you do not understand Japanese, the photographs and illustrations are still well worth taking a look at. Check them out below –

(image above) This movie theater looks to be a bigger version of the small but cozy Saturn Theater at Ghibli Museum that screens the studio’s animated short films.

(above left) The last time I saw this impressive flying ship from Castle In The Sky was at the Ghibli Expo in 2016. It seems to have found its new home at the Ghibli Park.

Now this is Attention To Detail – The architects who built the "totoro house" at the newly opened Ghibli Park in Aichi went so far as to reproduce the rotten wooden pillar base that Mei & Satsuki interacted with in the film – pic.twitter.com/0trDUP7YBL

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) December 7, 2022

(above) Initial sketches and drawings of the Ghibli Museum by Hayao Miyazaki during it’s conception stage. These illustrations are also collected in the excellent Hayao Miyazaki And The Ghibli Museum art book set.

I think it is going to be quite a while before I can actually visit Ghibli Park in person, so I’m just going to enjoy it vicariously through the photographs of this magazine. For 1080yen ( about $8 ), it’s not a bad substitute for a real entry ticket. Recommended.

Also, if you are interested to learn more about the architecture of Studio Ghibli, especially through illustrations and art work, I highly recommended the art book for their Structures Exhibition held in 2014.

“The Architectural Design Of Ghibli – Casa Brutus Magazine Dec 2022 / 2022年 12月号[スタジオジブリの建築・デザイン” magazine details :

– Dimensions – 28.4 x 23 x 1.5 cm
– Softcover, 182 pages ( Ghibli feature cover about 1/2 of magazine contents )
– In Japanese language

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