9th January 2010

I found this video earlier, it's a clip showing the opening of the new flagship store for Nike in Tokyo, with clips from the architect explaining his design decisions etc. I found it really interesting,having been to Harajuku (where the store is opening) on my trip to Japan last summer. The way in which the feel of the place is captured and also a tiny portion of Japanese modern culture is portrayed. I also found the architect speaking about the design interesting; and of course the design itself. there seemed to be so many different aspect to the design, the way the clip is shot, each camera shot you see, feels like a new building.

16th July - 6th August 2009

Osaka: JAPAN

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23744682/Sozoscha-College-International-workshop-OSAKA

(Link to PDF for the Sozoscha College of Design International Workshop 2009.) 

I attended the workshop for three weeks, staying with the Koyjiya family in Kumatori, and travelling in to Osaka daily to attend the course at Sozoscha College. The opportunity to experience the Japanese lifestyle first hand, and to work with people of different nationalities with different design views was amazing. I am so grateful to Naoto and his family for looking after me!

With the family who I stayed with in Kumatori. From left; Mr Kojiya, Peg (who travelled from California USA to attend the course and also stayed in Kumatori during the three weeks), Me and Mrs Kojiya.

Nagoya JAPAN 

15th July 2009

Nagoya was the last place I visited with Amy before spending the following three weeks in Osaka. We travelled here after speding a night in Fukuoka for Hakata Yamagasa Matsuri, a festival celebrating a 13th century Buddhist preist was carried aloft, sprinkling holy water over victims of a plague. When we got to Nagoya the first thing we saw when we stepped out of the station was a really interesting roundabout (Below). I found it really refreshing, it was such a bold statement, really beautiful and sculptural, and i felt it really made a 'gateway' to the city (I have designed two gateway projects in year one and two at Kingston University- the idea of a gateway is taking a landscape element which is a prominent place on the entrance to a city/ Town and creating a 'gateway' to that City/Town). 

The reason we went to Nagoya was to see Nagoya Basho Sumo Tournament at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. Located on the site of the secondary enclosure of Nagoya Castle, there was a beautiful water feature before entering the grounds, on the south east corner. It was a perfect example of how much of an impact water features can have and it was refreshing to see such a successful one; often in Britain i come across water features which don't work any more. (Photo below)

Sakura Jima, Kyushu. JAPAN

13th July 2009

Sakura Jima is the shouthern most place that we travelled to. In Kyushu, the southern most prefect excluding Okinawa and the southwest Islands. The weather was a lot hotter and dryer than everywhere else we travelled to. We stayed on Sakura Jima, a volcanic island very close to Kagoshima. The landscape was unbeleivable, very different to that which I have experienced before. The Island consists of three peaks; only one of which is still active - Miname-dake. Since 1955 there has been an almost continuous stream of smoke and ash. There was a huge eruption in 1914 in which the Island became a peninsula, three billion tonnes of lava erupted from the volcanoe. Half of the island is covered in ash, and has a constant haze in the air; the bus we travelled around the Island in left track marks in the ash on the road and everything had a thin white coat of ash. It was incredible to me that people live with the ash, and so close to an intimidating and huge volcanoe. The photos below show an eruption of ash, which happened when we were walking over the old lava flows of previous eruptions, it really made me think- at which point should you start panicking?!

Seto Inland Sea National Park

Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture.

11th July 2009

"In September, 1945, the 'Makurazaki typhoon' caused an avalanche of mud and rocks in the upper reaches of the Momijidani river. The Debris from the avalanche accumulated behind boulders in the middle reaches of the river, causing subsequent flows down to the lower section of the river, burying the Itsukushima Shrine grounds in 20000 cubic metres of debris.

In response to this disaster, the prefectural erosion contral section executed a three year plan, starting in 1948, to build a series of erosion control works. This project preserves the sites present state as a place of historical significance and scenic beauty. Moreover, the construction methods are intended to prevent a similar disaster from happening again. It was considered of the utmost importance that the harmony of the areas natural beauty be preserved. Under the guidance of cultural properties experts from the Ministry of Education and the renowned professor kenzo Tanba of Tokyo University, the creation of erosion control works in a Japanese garden style was a sucess. In the process, materials from the site were used, no trees were cut down, and concrete surfaces were made to be unseen.

When, in 1974, the erosion control specialist, Dr. Herbert Aulitzky of Vienna University came to visit, he gave the highest praise for the projects balance between preserving the areas natural beauty and engineering technical excellence."

Hiroshima Prefecture March 1996

We visited Miyajima to see the famous floating Torii of Itsukushima - Jinja, and discovered this National Park, which was very beautiful, and completely natural looking, you wouldn't guess that there are severe amounts of engineering envolved in the park. 

Hiroshima- Peace Memorial Park

10th July 2009

Visiting the park was a harrowing experience. Built very close to the epicentre of the atomic bomb 'little boy' which was dropped on Hiroshima on the 6th August 1945, in order to commemorate the victims. Hiroshima's Peace Park is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and contains a variety of memorials to the victims of of the first ever nuclear attack in 1945. We first visited the peace Memorial Museum, which is an interesting looking building at the Southern end of the park, by architect Kenzo Tange. Kenzo Tange was also responsible for the Memorial Centograph and Peace flame, towards the opposite end of the park to the building (all shown above-  the Flame in the foreground, the saddle shaped Centograph behind that, and the memorial museum in the background). The Centograph represents figurine clay saddles found in ancient tombs in Japan, and underneath its arch is a chest containing the names of those who died in the atomic bombing with the inscription: "Repose ye in peace, for the error shall not be repeated."  The Peace Flame will stay lit until all nuclear bombs are decommissioned and the threat of another Hiroshima is over for ever. It is here that a memorial service is held on August 6 each year when white doves are released. 

The shock of green space in the centre of such a bustling busy Japanese city  creates a space perfect for reflection on such a tragic event and acts as a constant reminder to visitors of the awesome and horrendous nature of nuclear warfare. The design of the park is very linear, directing people through and amongst various memorials and tributes to victims, to either the A-Bomb Dome (at the Northern end) or the the Memorial Peace Museum (at the Southern end of the park). The simple lawns and well small well kept gardens and well pruned topairy are unintrusive and enhance the other elements of the park. 

At the Southern end of the park close to the Aioi bridge which is a T- shaped bridge and the target for the attack, is the A-Bomb Dome (Gembaku Domu). It is on the opposite side of the river to the park, and nearly directly under the  epicentre of the A-bomb. Before the bomb was dropped it was the Industrial Promotion Hall, now its ruins are held up s a reminder of the destruction visited upon Hiroshima, it was declared a UNESCO world Heritage site in 1996.

Koko-en - HIMEJI - 09.07.2009

Koko-en was constructed in 1992 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Himeji municipality.

 Koko-en is composed of nine separate gardens, making use of the exact former site of where Nishi-Oyashiki (the lord's west residence) and other samurai houses once existed. The original location was confirmed through seven archeological excavations.
Professor Makoto Nakamura of Kyoto University supervised the planning and designing of this garden.
The name Koko-en is derived from Koko-do the name of Japan's sixth provincial school founded in 1692 in Himeji by the last Lord of Himeji, Sakai family.
All of the nine separate gardens show the essence of the Edo period. The following are some of the many splendors which can be found here. Among attractions, Oyasiki-no-niwa, the garden of the lord's house, comes first.
Second , Cha-no-niwa, the garden of tea, has an elaborate tea house, where you can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony. Next, several mud walls with roof tiles on were built as replicas of original walls located here.
There is also a Nagaya-Gate which bestows upon viewers the historical feeling of the Edo period. In addition, from Nagare-no-hiraniwa you can enjoy excellent views of the main keep and the West Bailey of Himeji Castle. Finally strolling through the gardens, you can appreciate beautiful trees and flowers of four seasons, the rapids and waterfalls, and covered walkways built of Japanese cypress.
You can feel history and see natural beauty in this garden. It is an impressive and scenic spot located just west of Himeji Castle.

Kinkakuji Temple - KYOTO - 08.07.2009

Beautiful golden pagoda. the grounds it was set in were beautiful too. the lake reflects the gold of the pagoda beautifully. Where you would expect to see grass in a garden in the Uk there is Moss in Japanese gardens, I often saw gardeners weeding grass seedlings out of the moss.

Toji Temple - KYOTO - 08.07.09

To-ji was founded in 794 when emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nara to kyoto, and was thus one of the earliest Buddhist temple.Its five-tiered pagoda is 57m tall, making it the highest wooden tower in Japan. It was last built in 1643 after having burned five times.Toji is listed on the UNESCO world heritage list since 1994. Kobo-san market is held on the temple's premises on the 21st of each month.

Really lovely gardens, lots of water and little stone bridges and very cute little terrapin/turtles in the ponds on little stones.

KYOTO

Nijo-Jo Gardens

6th July 2009

"The Ninomaru Garden, designed by Kobori Enshu, has undergone several changes over the years. Originally designed so as to not show the passing of seasons (no trees were planted) plants and trees have since been added and allow the garden to have color at all times of the year: Camellias in January and February; apricot blossoms in February and March; dogwood and cherry blossoms in April; azaleas in May; azaleas and cape jasmine in June; Indian lilacs in July and August; bush clover in September adn October; maples leaves in November; and firethorn in December. No matter what season you go, there will be something beautiful and colorful blooming.In the center of the garden is a large pond containing three islands connected by four bridges. Horai, the central island, represents the Island of Eternal Happiness and is flanked by Turtle Island (Kame-jima) and Crane Island (Tsuru-jima), both symbols of longevity. Waterlilies, plants, and rocks augment the beauty of the garden. It is really a very beautiful and peaceful garden.

In 1965 the Seiryu Garden was built for the purpose of receptions and cultural events. This garden is landscaped in both modern and traditonal styles and contains two teahouses, the Koun-tei and the Waraku-an. In June and November tea masters perform tea ceremonies for the public."

http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/Kyoto/nijo.html

The gardens were designed by Kobori Enshu, who was a master of tea, architecture, garden design, calligraphy and poetry he was a multi-talented leader of early Edo culture in Japan. Often i noticed that the designers of a lot of gardens i visited whilst in Japan where primarily tea masters.

Hida- Takayama

5/07/2009

Coy carp. Coy carp in the river running through Takayama. Ornamental fish are often a big feature in Japanese design, probably because water is a big feature in alot of their gardens and landscape architecture. I often noticed fairly small pots and earns outside houses and on the street decorated with small lilys weeds and fish inside them. Also i noticed fairly large fish in some unlikely situations obviously there purely for decoration. outside one shop there was a beautilful shallow marble trough under the shop front window, filled with Coy carp.

4th July 2009

Train ride from nagoya heading towards Takayama, going past Gifu. I noticed how there are rice paddys and agriculture in all spare space, including in built up areas. Traveling by train you seem to travel constantly through urban sprall, countryside only seems to exist in areas which are impossible to build on eg. mountains. Takayama is located in the Japanese alps, in the Hida region.

TOKYO

Harajuku and East Shinjuku

1st July 2009

A green wall which was just inside a very classy shopping complex. The wall was inside but acted as the exterior wall for a Bvglari shop. It was planted with a huge variety of plants, maybe easier to manage/ maintain inside. I noticed it was planted into a plastic grid, but was also surrounded by an artificial material, like oasis (used for flower arranging) possibly part of the irrigation system.

On Omote Sando a big snobby shopping street with all the big names, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Bvglari etc etc. This shop front caught my attention especially for its jazzy lights and unmistakably Japanese blinged up character inside.  v cool. 

A shelter in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. I love the use of plants, growing up the frame of the shelter, it makes it so much more interesting and asthetically pleasing. It is nice to see something usually so normal, made distinctive and unusual, using such a simple technique.

Some interesting architecture around Harajuku. The photograph I took doesn't really do it justice. In places where you would normally expect the main structure or support for the building, in corners etc, there were huge sheets of glass. very beautiful and unusual. Really nice how the glass reflects the street trees, links building and it's surroundings well.

Marunouchi

Tokyo International Forum

30.06.2009

Visited the Tokyo international forum, the building itself is very impressive, by Rafael Vinoly Architects, who won the 1989 International Design Competition, which was the first international architectural competition in Japan. I really liked the Design, the main hall was huge and spacious, the steel beams supporting the roof give the building a skeletal feel. The exterior to the building was also interestingly designed. The plaza leads into the main building which houses two theatres, one of which is one of the largest in the world, over 6000 square metres of exhibition space, several conference rooms, restaurants and shops. The plaza is paved in granite with a large swathe as you walk towards the International Forum building which is paved in glass blocks and lit from underneath which change colour at intervals. The effect of the glass paving give the plaza an identity the minute you step into it, its a very cool effect. There are also trees dotted around the plaza in a way which you do not often see in the UK, seemingly random, but beautiful. And seating in unusual forms of blob- like sculptures imitating stones or actual stones/ rocks, placed sometimes in pattern with each other (eg. a circle surrounding a tree (bottom))  and sometimes alone. The effect of the placement of trees and objects in the plaza, is that the space seems to demand your attention, you can't simply walk straight through- you notice.

Tokyo International forum. By Architect Rafael Vinoly.

Tokyo International forum plaza.

The Micheal Jackson lit paving.

examples of the stones/ rocks and seating around the plaza.

30th June

TOKYO

I arrived in Tokyo in the evening, in time to see all the lights! very impressive. Walked around Ginza, which was one of the first areas of Tokyo to modernise back in the 1870s. It was home of Tokyo's first department stores, and is now a very popular, and classy shopping area. I noticed as i was walking some interesting street furniture and landscape.

Top, an example of some of the unusual architecture around Ginza; very tall as most buildings seem to be in japan -the lack of building space means instead of building outwards, they build upwards. I noticed some very economical uses of space; especcially with car and bike parking in big cities in Japan. And bottom some swanky street lights outside the Apple shop in Ginza, Love the use of a fairly standard shape for a street light, contradicted by the fact that the whole thing lights up. nice.