Karl Bengs: Keeping Memories Alive

Bengs in front of his office, located on the second floor of a restored traditional inn.

The idyllic Bengs homestead in the Taketokoro district of Niigata.

The pillars and beams were retained, while insulating materials were added to the walls, which were repainted light rose.

Cristina—who enjoys gardening—and Karl Bengs in front of their home.

Western touches, like imported double-pane glass and a dining table (left), blend harmoniously with Japanese elements, such as a tokonoma alcove (center) and a window railing found in an antique shop that serves as a stairway banister (right).

A copy of Bruno Taut’s Houses and People of Japan owned by his father is a personal treasure that is preserved in a glass case and put on display in the first-floor café.