Originating from Japan, bonsai is a meticulous art form that has been refined over centuries. A bonsai tree, contrary to misconceived notions, is not a genetically dwarfed plant but a standard tree meticulously pruned and nurtured to maintain its miniature size. It embodies the principles of balance, harmony, and patience. Each tree is a testament to the artist's years of dedication and an emblem of their understanding and respect for nature. The bonsai trees’ shapes are often dictated by the environment, mimicking wind-swept, rugged mountaintop trees or those growing alongside river bends. These characteristics also become the foundation for architects seeking inspiration in bonsai.

The mainstay of bonsai—shape, harmony, and balance—finds resonance in architectural design. Architects often take inspiration from a bonsai's way of establishing harmony with its surroundings. Careful observations of a bonsai’s design reveal an underlying pattern or a rhythm, which is an integral part of design elements in architecture. A building designed with the principles of bonsai art form does more than serve its function; it interacts with its surroundings in a manner that promotes balance and harmony.

Several buildings worldwide draw inspiration from bonsai. For instance, the 'Bonsai House' is an example of buildings designed with the principles of bonsai. It embodies minimalist elegance with its balanced use of horizontal and vertical lines, similar to the way a bonsai tree would be pruned. Its open-concept living spaces mimic the openness and flow of a bonsai garden. Similarly, ‘The Bonsai Building’ in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is designed to represent a bonsai tree, demonstrating the aesthetic of combining architecture with nature’s wisdom. These buildings are but a fraction of how bonsai has influenced architectural design, and architects continue to explore this connection.