Constructed from more than 5,000 cardboard parts—all snipped from discarded Amazon.com boxes—and built across the span of five months, this ultra-elaborate Buddhist temple looks both decadent and detailed enough to belong in
Huguette Clark's miniature collection of them and, well, cardboard enough to make architect Shigeru Ban clap with glee. Upuaza Touryou, previously an unknown artist, modeled the piece after Byodoin—the Japanese temple featured on the back of ten yen coins—and spent just three dollars completing his masterpiece, using such simple tools as a ruler, a hobby knife, and an unlimited supply of patience. Do head over to Kotaku for the full gallery, plus a video (in Japanese) that offers a glimpse at the project in various stages of completion.
· Amazon Cardboard Boxes Make a Beautiful Buddhist Temple [Kotaku]
· All Miniatures posts [Curbed National]