Japanese Tower, Historic pagoda in Laeken, Belgium
The Japanese Tower is a five-story wooden structure with red lacquer details located on the grounds of the Castle of Laeken. The facade features carved ornamental woodwork and glass elements across multiple levels, with red lacquer finishes defining the structure throughout.
King Leopold II commissioned the structure after seeing Japanese architecture at the 1900 Paris Exposition, which inspired his design preferences. Construction took place between 1901 and 1904, reflecting his personal fascination with Far Eastern artistic traditions.
The building merges Buddhist and Shinto design with European stained glass windows that filter light through each level. Visitors can see how Japanese craftsmanship and European glasswork blend together in the carved details and ornamental features throughout the structure.
The structure sits on royal castle grounds that are not normally open to regular visitors, as it remains private royal property. It can be viewed from outside from nearby public areas, though trees and walls limit sight lines and visibility.
The second floor features rare aventurine lacquer panels decorated with special stone fragments not found elsewhere in the building. These special materials show the high level of craftsmanship and care taken in selecting components for this particular level.
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