The People's Palace of Culture is one of the city's many neohistoricist buildings.

Looking upwards at the Chinese Culture Center in the Hilton.

Novosibirsk Summer Pavilion (arts and culture venue) by

Masahiro and Mao Harada of Mount Fuji Architects Studio wanted to break with the traditional definition of a house when they designed this small Tokyo home. They achieved their goal by using the same material for the ceiling, the walls, and the floor, creating a space that flows beautifully. Photo by Ryota Atarashi.

A finger-jointed drop provides soft definition between the island and dining area of the slab.

Simon Norfolk: Former Soviet-era 'Palace of Culture', Kabul (2001 - 02)

The residence was designed according to the proportions of the Tatami mat, a "golden ratio" of Japanese culture, says Kurath.

The computer-designed kitchen area has the feel of a ship's galley, with everything neatly stowed, yet visible and instantly at hand: It's much the definition of "ship-shape." For dinner parties, well-worn Eames shell chairs are pulled down by David, with the help of a footstool. "I have nearly an eight-foot reach," says the 6'3'' David. ("It gets a little tough if I have to spend a weekend or so alone," says Im.)

The living room is a wonderful example of Alan's signature minimalist style. From the clean treatment of every single surface to his flawless definition of space—the designer's work is an exercise in restraint.

The project narrates “another” Venice on every scale—the definition of traditional architectural elements, the choice of lights, furnishing, and the furniture with many pieces by Carlo Scarpa and his son Tobia.

The living room is a wonderful example of Alan's signature style. His work an exercise in restraint from his clean treatment of every single surface to his flawless definition of space—the designer redefines minimalism.

Architect Chris Pardo designed the Element 1 model for prefab builder Method Homes, cladding it in Cor-Ten steel and cedar. Pardo’s design “is the definition of simple, elegant, straightforward building,” resident Karen Kiest says.

Sticker Shock Though colorful dashes here and there certainly enliven the sober interior, little adds a dose of whimsy like the wall decals found in the kids‘ rooms. The owl over Jonne‘s shoulder is available from Raumgerecht and the branch leaves are from the Dutch company Inke. raumgerecht.de, inke.nl

The altar-end of the building was also enclosed to form the boundary for the living room, with the attached office and workshop behind the wall on the lower level. The upper level walkway to the master suite provides a sense of definition in the expansive space, which is 28 feet high at its peak.

"Around the time we were thinking of moving back [to San Francisco], I took a trip to Marfa, Texas, and fell in love with the agelessness of Donald Judd’s work," says Amy. "I liked the idea of having a classic American reference to the space, since we are influenced as much from America as we are by Asian culture."

Clearly vigor wasn't limited just to the machine as this New York periodical Physical Culture from 1927 shows.

The Slow offers much more than boutique accommodations, steeping guests in a curated experience that blends art across several disciplines. The brainchild of George Gorrow, the designer behind streetwear label Ksubi, and his wife Cisco, a model, The Slow combines art, fashion, music, and food for an immersive experience that blends Indonesian and contemporary surf cultures.

Sauna is an essential part of Finnish mökki culture.

A sauna, a substantial part of Finnish culture, is featured in each of the three suites.

An image by Kalman, created for Tablet Magazine.

Local books and artwork bring Barcelona's vibrant culture into the guest rooms.

Located on the sixth floor, the restaurant WA offers a tour of Japanese cuisine. “WA visits various places in Japan on a regular basis, discovering the flavors embedded in the local culture and delivering them to the customers,” says the brand. “It enables customers to enjoy the richness of Japanese culture through food.”

The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in the Uptown neighborhood plants you firmly in the middle of all the musical culture Chicago has to offer.

Cured ham hocks dangle from the ceiling of Museo del Jamón, celebrating Spain’s famed Serrano ham culture.

The perforated privacy screens that wrap around the home were inspired by local culture.

The material palette darkens in the study, which is stocked with books on art and culture.

The vintage master bath has a deep soaking tub, inspired by Japanese bathing culture.

Art work inspired by the city's culture

Bringing a little bit of handicraft to the show floor gave visitors a chance to see what goes into making a chair—and perhaps a little shock from the sound of a pneumatic stapler.

Throughout the hotel’s culinary experience Gastronomy is a strong part of the culture and features local, natural ingredients.

The package included a gourmet, multiple-course dinner, with each dish representing a different aspect of Chinese culture.

The kitchen is composed of stainless steel, from the cabinetry fabricated by Barcelona company Timblau, to the counters and backsplash, the latter given a mirror polish for contrast to the former’s patina on the surfaces. The boxes were brought in on a crane and then the group put them together in place. “The kitchen shouldn't be a closed dirty area of the house,” says Jon. “But [rather] the heart.” Fitting, as social life in the Basque culture revolves around eating together.

Midcentury California beach culture and the classic look of the Mediterranean coast blend to create cozy, lush lounge spaces in this Laguna Beach retreat.

Aparium relaunched Hotel Covington in a way that reimagines its legacy as a center of style and culture along the Cincinnati Riverfront.

Drawing on Wes Anderson’s distinctive visual style and Melbourne’s cafe culture, an Australian studio takes a fresh approach to a new cafe in Chengdu.

The Genesis GV80 sits in the glass-encased carport, which speaks to the importance of automobile culture in Neutra’s time. Preproduction model with optional features shown.