In the japanese house you have an alcove (tokonoma) where art pieces, flowers, a paper roll or other objects of art are arranged. I read that the most important person in a meeting is sitting most closely to the alcove with his back towards it. Than I realized that the Lees verder
The Katsura Imperial Villa was completed in 1615. Prince Toshihito and later his son prince Toshitada erected several constructions and an impressive garden. Through the ‘windows’ you have totally different views on the gardens. Not only related to the vegetation but alto to the time of the day and the Lees verder
Although my research is not on mapping Kyoto, I want to share my fascination for maps, especially in Japan. The marking of land (different trees, agriculture), water (river, lake, moving water), hills (unfolded) and temples (shrine and temple complex) are so accurate and beautiful. The whole image explains on different Lees verder
I visited with Birgit (an architect working in Delft, who’s also invited by the KCCC) some Machiya. Now I start to recognize the structure and similarities in the houses: levels, mapping (everything according to the size of the tatami), materials, garden and ways of use (see map below with my Lees verder
I met some people from the organizing institutions and they told me that it would be difficult to find inhabitants willing to open their Machiya for me to show me their house, give an interview and to allow me taking photographs. It’s strange that although inside there’s nearly no privacy Lees verder
This morning I met one of the neighbors. He explained me very gently when and how to open and close the sliding doors* in the house. Places we share, places where he could see me (‘you’re a woman’) when and how to open or close them. I will show you Lees verder
After 11 hours by plain (7 hours forward in time) and nearly any sleep I got a warmhearted welcome from the people from the KCCC, the Doshisha University and the owners of the house. My apartment is big and full of things from the family: some traditional (photographs from the Lees verder
Exactly seven years ago I traveled for the first time to Japan. I was invited as Artist in Residence to come to Tokyo. Tokyo is the new capital of Japan, Kyoto is the old capital. In 794 it became the seat of Japan’s imperial court till 1869, than the emperor Lees verder
Today Joke Robaard (a colleague artist) asked me if I planned to put this book from Christopher Alexander in my suitcase. It’s new to me, but sounds very interesting. I haven’t packed yet, so maybe to take with me together with ….. (max 23 kg!) In a series of books Lees verder
Last weekend I was suprised to see this book in the Stedelijk. It’s an essay on aesthtics by Junichiro Tanizaki (1886-1965). Femke told me to read it for preparation, and Kenya Hara wrote about it in his book ‘designing design’. Tanizaki has a sharp eye for colour, light and material. Lees verder