Eco Living Japan. Sustainable Ideas for Living Green

241 Pages·2016·37.64 MB·English

by  Deanna MacDonald

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ECO
LIVING
JAPAN
Sustainable Ideas for Living Green
Deanna MacDonald
Foreword by Edward Suzuki
Preface by Geeta Mehta
TUT TLE Publishing
Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 2
0 82 REINVENTING TRADITION
Towards a More Sustainable Future
007 Foreword by Edward Suzuki 0 84 HOUSE IN NAGAHAMA
009 Preface by Geeta Mehta 094 HOUSE OF MAPLE LEAVES
010 The Sustainable Japanese House: Past, Present 106 KOTOBOSHIKAN
and Future 116 MÊME MEADOWS
126 MINI STEP HOUSE
CHAPTER 1 136 KATSURA IMPERIAL VILLA
0 22 BORROWED LANDSCAPES 138 PASSIVE QUALITIES
Putting Nature in the Design
0 24 HOUSE IN KITA-KAMAKURA CHAPTER 3
034 HOUSE IN KOMAE 1 40 ‘SMART’ GREEN
042 HOUSE IN NARA Innovation, Technology and Sustainability
054 HOUSE IN RAIZAN FOREST 1 42 PASSIVE HOUSE KARUIZAWA
064 HOUSE IN TATESHINA 150 ONJUKU BEACH HOUSE
078 GREEN CURTAINS 160 A-RING HOUSE
0 80 THE MULTIPURPOSE ENGAWA 168 THE RISE OF THE DESIGN ECO PREFAB
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CHAPTER 4
1 70 REUSE, RENEW, RECYCLE, RENOVATE
Alternatives to a Throwaway Culture CHAPTER 5
1 72 OLD JAPANESE TIMBER HOUSE RENOVATION 1 96 SUSTAINABLE JAPAN ABROAD
182 SHINMACHI HOUSE The International Impact of Japanese Design
194 ARCHITECTURE OF THE PEOPLE: URBAN AND RURAL 1 98 KONISHI GAFFNEY HOUSE
206 MJÖLK HOUSE
212 SUMMER RETREAT SÆVIK
222 A1 HOUSE
232 CHARRED WOOD CLADDING
234 THE WABI SABI AESTHETICS OF THE TEAHOUSE
236 Architects and Designers
237 Resource Guide
240 Photo Credits
240 Acknowledgments
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6 E CO L I V I N G J A PA N
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7
Foreword
In the old days, the Japanese wisely employed the concept of so successful. Such a procedure, however, is not unique to my
shakkei, meaning ‘borrowed scenery’, to enlarge and enrich their offi ce, but is becoming increasingly prevalent generally.
rather small piece of property by taking in the neighboring vista as The following are examples of traditional wisdom from which
part of their own. Unfortunately, this practice is fast disappearing we try to borrow to achieve sustainable, healthy and comfortable
in dense urban environments where many seek privacy rather homes: Engawa, as mentioned, is the peripheral corridor that runs
than connection. As a result, I have been often asked to design around a traditional Japanese house. It is the intermediate space.
defensively. Over time, I have developed a pattern of design I In the summer, sliding partitions are removed to allow cross-
call ‘Interface’, whereby a strong demarcation, such as a fence ventilation and connect inside and out. In the winter, storm doors
or a screen, is made at the site boundary. Behind this screen is and shoji screens are returned to increase thermal insulation and
a cushion of green, usually bamboo. This combination of screen minimize heat loss. Tsukimidai is a moon-gazing terrace, an
and green is Interface, an intermediate space between inside and interface between heaven and earth, a nostalgic planetarium
out. Looking back at my experiences, I realize that what I had and a form of borrowed scenery on a grand scale. Tsuboniwa is a
cultivated was not wholly new but had its roots in traditional pocket garden and interface between inside and outside. Some
Japanese architecture. are as small as a square meter, but nonetheless can do wonders,
Engawa, the corridor running around the periphery of a house, allowing in natural sunlight and breezes while pleasing the soul.
is central to traditional Japanese design. It is neither outside nor Tokonoma is a stage in a tearoom, usually one tatami in size,
inside but is simply an interface between two worlds. To my happy where seasonal art, such as a fl oral arrangement, is displayed, thus
surprise, I discovered that what I had come up with was nothing bringing the outside in. Irori is a hearth where not only food but,
more than a modernized version of the traditional engawa. I more importantly, bodies and souls are warmed. Hisashi, or deep
began to realize, moreover, that there was a wealth of other eaves, allow winter sun to penetrate but prevent the scorching
design vocabulary from the past that I could learn from and sun and rain from entering the interior. Shoji and kohshi, louver
apply in modern design. If we could only capture the wisdom screens of wood, bamboo or reeds, soften harsh natural sunlight to
of traditional Japanese daily living and translate that into our diffuse gently inside. Tsuufuu, or natural cross-ventilation, carries
contemporary lifestyle, then there would be so much that could gentle breezes throughout the house by means of windows and
be accomplished using new materials, technology and design! doors to minimize use of air-conditioning and energy. Uchimizu
Since this realization, my private practice, Edward Suzuki is literately ‘scattering water’ in front of and around a house to
Associates, has been applying this centuries-old traditional tame summer heat.
Japanese architectural know-how, particularly in our house While Japan prides itself today in its development of futuristic
designs. Since 1945, Japan has, unfortunately, abandoned these high-tech innovations, it also has a vast, environmentally
traditions, losing the qualities inherent in the old ways, to embrace wisdom-rich inheritance from which future generations can
Modernism. As such, at my practice we are now relearning and benefi t and prosper.
reapplying the principles that once made Japanese architecture Edward Suzuki
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8 E CO L I V I N G J A PA N
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9
Preface
Given its history of architectural and product design using natural, social dimensions. The built environment has the power to
reusable materials, its powerful aesthetics and cutting-edge enhance or deplete the social capital and social equity of cities,
technology, the world looks to Japan for inspiration and leadership and policy directions must ensure that Japan’s social capital, one
in the fi eld of sustainable design. of its main assets today, is nurtured and sustained through every
But what is sustainability? Is a building full of energy-saving urban intervention. This includes resisting the building of big box
features worthy of sustainability certifi cation if it is built by stores, shopping malls and gated communities at the expense of
tearing down another potentially usable building, is grossly vibrant neighborhoods and shopping streets.
oversized or is built far from where its users live or work? This Sustainability has to do not just with the moment a building is
question needs to inform a holistic dialogue about sustainable built but also its life-cycle costing. This includes non-renewable
architecture, which must exist within the framework of sustain- materials used in its construction, the distance these materials
able neighborhoods and cities. Japan does less well on this count. travel to arrive at the site, energy use in construction, operational
There is no reason for a typical Japanese house to be rebuilt every effi ciency, maintenance and fi nal destruction. Destruction of
30–40 years, or much sooner if the builder can persuade the buildings is following the way of cars, ipads and clothing, where
owner that new earthquake-related laws or chipped paint is obsolesces are built into things to keep the makers in business.
reason enough to tear down the old house and make a new one. This book focuses on exceptional work by architects who have
Just as Japanese architects are questioning every aspect of gone much further than required under the Comprehensive
unsustainable practices in architecture, Japanese consumers must Assessment System for Built Environment Effi ciency guidelines
also ask questions about rebuilding their still usable and repairable developed since 2001. These guidelines are grossly inadequate at
homes. After all, Japan has the world’s oldest extant wooden present, often more of advertising gimmicks than real attempts at
building, the temple of Horyuji built more than 600 years ago. addressing the most pressing issues about sustainability. However,
Sustainable buildings are just one fi x to the spectrum of un- they are a good start, and it is hoped that they will evolve into
sustainable lifestyles we have created over the past few decades more meaningful guidelines and regulations over time.
of global prosperity and hyper-consumptive behavior. A few This book focuses on exceptional work by architects who have
sustainable buildings cannot alone change the indicators of gone much further than required under the CASBEE (Comprehen-
pollution, climate change and depletion of non-renewable sive Assessment System for Built Environment Effi ciency)
recourses. The urban form must also be sustainable, with mixed- guidelines developed since 2001. The easy-to-understand format,
use development that aids healthy and sustainable lifestyles that succinct text, sidebars that call attention to specifi c technologies
are less dependent on private cars for transportation. Japanese and methodologies, and photographs to illustrate the concepts
cities are already high density, and therefore more effi cient than will enable an expert as well as a caring citizen to enjoy the book
most world cities, but urban sprawl and depletion of Japan’s while learning about important new directions in the fi eld of
precious forest and farm lands must also continuously be checked. sustainable architecture.
Sustainable building design should also include physical and Geeta Mehta
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