FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
EAST MEETS WEST
THE GENESIS OF INAX TILE
IMPERIAL HOTEL
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
THE IMPERIAL HOTEL AND THE CREATION OF INAX TILE
Frank Lloyd Wright admitted to only three influences: the wooden building blocks he had played with as a child; Louis Henri Sullivan, his early mentor; and the Japanese woodblock print. Of particular significance to his aesthetic development was the woodblock print and the Japanese culture that produced it.

The history of INAX can be traced back over 100 years, to when our forefathers partnered with the preeminent American architect in their relentless efforts to create and curate the finest tile in the world — the tile that would be used to build the Imperial Hotel. By determining the properties of clay and the impact of fire, through numerous trials, they succeeded in the large-scale production of the decorative tiles that were both unique and proprietary to Japan’s most grand hotel. This is the foundation of INAX. LEARN MORE

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL

ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN + INAX TILE

CULTURAL INTERSECTION

The broad themes of Mayan architecture echoed the nature of eloquent Japanese design, including a blend of horizontal lines, connection to the land, iconography and ornamentation. While these style and structural elements originated worlds apart, their convergence, in the hands of a master, contributed to one of the most significant movements in architectural history.

DEEP REVERANCE FOR JAPANESE DESIGN

INFORMED WRIGHT’S PRAIRIE SCHOOL AESTHETIC

CREATIVE VISION

The architect’s vision for the hotel was a testament to his enduring appreciation for Japanese art, culture, elegant structure and simplicity of design. To design an abstract cube would have violated the spirit of Japan, so the richly ornamented 250-room hotel was constructed in an H shape, around a courtyard and reflecting pool.

WRIGHT’S ENDURING PARTNERSHIP

WITH MASTER JAPANESE ARTISANS CREATED
THE WORLD’S FINEST TILE

THE ORIGINS OF INAX

“I believe it was this spirit of challenge to change that allowed them to create these tiles which are unlike anything else you can see in the world”. Watch as Hiroyuki Oonishi, Lixil Water Technology Japan CEO, shares his thoughts on the creation of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan and the unqiue origins of INAX tile.