Eliana Johnson #2- Japan and Japanisme

•  Historical background
• There was no contact with Europe until 1542 which began a small amount of trading
• Contact was broken for around 200 years in 1638 in order to restore and strengthen traditions and identity as a country
• Japanese Design
• plain, natural, and lots of attention to minute details are seen in not only the design but in their way of life. 
• there were many connections to religion, mainly Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism
• Wood is a main component in Japanese architecture
• The main structure is rows of columns, infilled with thin movable panels.
• Panels were made of woodwork, plaster or rice paper.
• Framing was orthogonal- (horizontal and vertical).
• Graceful curves are incorporated into column outlines, rafters, and roof brackets.
• Japanese buildings whether secular of sacred are made up of bays.
• Each structure is three, five, seven or other odd number of bays long.
• There are fixed relationships of elements and when one dimension is changed, others are changed proportionally.
• The exterior wall includes a shogi or sliding panel mad of light wood lattice and translucent paper, which functions as a window or door. This is covered by a sturdier exterior shutter called the amado.
• Interiors
• Interior areas among the modular bays and around the columns that demarcate them are divided up freely.
• The special divisions are made by fusuma or movable screens or panels that run on tracks. These screens are made of paper, silk or decoratively painted.
• The size and shape of the room was based on tatami floor mat. This mat was traditionally made of rice straw or in current times, vinyl flooring. Each mat is 2” thick and about 3 by 6 feet. Shoes are not worn in the interior of the home.
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• Hierarchy in a room is created by elevating sections of the floor.
• Katsura was constructed over a 50-year time frame by Kobori Enshu
• it was meant to show qualities such as simplicity, perfection of form, and the spirit of freedom. 
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• Furniture
• Furniture was moveable and flexible
• many popular woods were magnolia, paulownia, zelkova, white mulberry, and chestnut
• instead of chairs, enza, or cushions were used. 
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• Now it is more likely to see zabuton decorated with sashiko stitching. 
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• Screens were used as moveable walls so that spaces could be opened up or closed in
• many were painted and considered practical works of art and made of wood, paper, or silk. 
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• Lighting
• mostly natural lighting but also used lamps and hibachi
• Decorative arts
• Ceramics were a significant art in early Japan. 
• Satsuma was simple earthenware for consumption
• Imari was the term given to fine porcelain that was under-glazed in a blue with bright colors, such as deep red, enameled over it
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• Japanisme was the Western version and use of Japanese art. They were influenced by it and created their own way of seeing it. 
• Current application
• the Schindler House by Rudolph Schindler was based on his admiration for Japanese architecture. The Schindler House in Los Angeles, California, incorporates features of Japanese architecture while maintaining a unique modern design. It uses natural materials like redwood, canvas, and glass in their raw state, reminiscent of traditional Japanese construction. The house conveys a sense of openness, with direct access to gardens and the use of screens in place of solid walls, akin to Japanese shôji. Broad overhangs and multi-functional spaces further align it with traditional Japanese architectural principles. However, there are significant differences. The Schindler House exemplifies Modernism, while Japanese architecture is rooted in tradition. Its construction employs innovative techniques, such as lift-slab panels, contrasting with the nail-free wooden structures of Japanese buildings. Additionally, the house features a pinwheel design with distinct wings, diverging from the curved, sloping roofs often seen in Japanese architecture.
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