NATURE, SPACE &CULTURE
OF VERNACULAR JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
日本建築に見られる自然・空間・文化
Q1: What makes a ‘Vernacular House’?
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Cathedral in Italy
Horyu-ji Temple, Nara, Japan
Pyramids in Egypt Greek Temple in Italy
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Size Comparison
Q2. Why Japanese Buildings smaller?
Chinese Pagoda
Japanese Pagoda
French Cathedral
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Module: Dividing vs. Piling
Timber’s module determined by division &developing into details Stone/brick’s module determined for multiplication;
developing into height
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Asian Pagoda Western Obelisk
Q3. Why Asian Pagodas have horizontal lines (roofs)?
c.f. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie architecture (USA)
Q4. What made such different attitudes toward nature?
c.f. Japanese did not build houses on top of mountains
Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
境内Keidai , or a temple site is an open-air precinct,symbolically enclosed
A cathedral is physically enclosed and holds everything inside
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Open Architecture work as a group of outdoor furniture
Wall Architecture encloses everything inside
Q5. What made this difference –Open vs. Closed?
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Materials and Structures
Wooden post-beam structure Masonry (stone-piled) structure
‘Trullo’in Alberobello Italy
Western Houses Japanese Houses Masonry (Stone or Brick)
Wooden or Steel (Rahmen )
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Structural Necessity
Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Ancient Greek Temple
Q6. Why Greek temples started to make post-beam structure with stones?
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Roof & Floor Architecture Wall Architecture
Q7. How this difference affect the interior and garden design?
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Q8. How does furniture-life affected the Japanese houses?
Elevated Floors work as table, chair and bed Ground floors need furniture (European, Chinese …etc.)
日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Q9. How does this difference affect the community?
Furniture would be more suitable for lower floor and smaller window
Easy access Same eye-level 日本の伝統的建築と庭園Traditional Japanese Architecture and Gardens
Arno Suzuki, Kyoto University
Q10. What problems this double-style causes?
和洋折衷‘Wa-yo Secchu’, or Semi-Western Style。