Anton Wormann, a Swedish fashion model turned architectural innovator and building antiquarian, has embarked on a transformative journey that bridges Swedish and Japanese design principles: the revitalization of akiya (abandoned homes). This integration is evident in his projects across Tokyo, where he combines the minimalist elegance of Scandinavian design with the traditional beauty of Japanese architecture.
Known by his social media handle, “Anton in Japan,” Wormann’s approach to renovation is deeply influenced by his upbringing in Sweden, where preserving and restoring historical structures is a valued practice. Growing up in a 120-year-old house in suburban Stockholm, his parents undertook most renovations themselves, while Anton and his sisters played around in the garden amid the mess of building materials — ultimately spurring the siblings to build their own “forts,” as Wormann calls them, out of leftover wood.
Speaking from his most recently acquired akiya in Tokyo’s Shin-Nakano neighborhood, Wormann explains how the approach he grew up with can be at odds with the way things work in Japan.