WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Grid

I’m in Japan again for this week’s Photo Challenge, because when I think of grid I think of the amazing train station in Kyoto, Japan, which is one massive collection of architectural grids. As you can see from the pics, Kyoto Station is a daringly modern piece of architecture in the middle of one of Japan’s more traditional cities. It’s an exciting structure, and its irregular cubic facade of plate glass over a steel frame gives it an a spiraling, expansive feel. The prodigious use of glass in its facade fills the interior of the structure with natural light.

As well as being one of the more beautiful cities in Japan, or on earth for that matter, Kyoto is also a major travel hub, and trains and buses of all manner from different parts of Japan will eventually stop at the station. Even the Shinkansen bullet train makes a stop at Kyoto Station as it travels between Tokyo and Osaka. The station also serves as a key stopping point for city taxis, and taxi after taxi rolls through the circular driveway at the cab stand out front. This is significant because taxis in Kyoto are cheap and plentiful and a great way to travel from place to place within the city.

The station also houses restaurants, shopping areas, a major hotel and the ubiquitous hundred coffee shops (the Japanese LOVE coffee!). But just strolling through and around the station and marveling at it’s vast expanse and effusive light is a treat in itself.

If you’d like see more pics of Kyoto Station, and learn a little bit about its history and construction, visit my blog post from 2013 that came as part of my Cool Architecture series. As I stated about the Cocoon Tower in Tokyo a few weeks ago, if you’re into architecture, then the intriguing Kyoto Station is a must see.

Check out this week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge to see some interesting takes on this week’s Grid Challenge.