Even the basic planning module of Japanese construction needs to be changed so that tatami and futon sizes, door and counter heights, etc. fit the people who now use them. Resource depletion, environmental impact in obtaining materials, reusability, waste stream impacts, energy use in manufacture, performance, and toxicity all influence choice in building materials. Use of these materials then has to deal with durability, safety, comfort, and the psychological and spiritual performance of the completed building. Durability is one of the most vital, yet neglected, aspects of building design. It can dramatically alter the investment of work, energy, material resources and maintenance per year of a building's life.
Durability can reduce the environmental costs of building by an order of magnitude.
Opportunities for improvement in materials go beyond cost and energy performance. Reflections in windows at night can generate distraction and self-consciousness by seeing ourselves or others reflected in strange combinations. Etched glass, for another example, has gained widespread use in shoji panels in place of traditional rice paper, yet gives a harsh feeling to the spaces where they are used. The amount of agricultural land being lost to urban development in Japan is stunning. The loss of agricultural productivity is often irreparable, and our connection with the natural productive processes which support our lives is essential.