BACK TO THE FUTURE Tracing the traditional and modern architecture of East-Asian countries Edward Ryerson Fellowship in Architecture
Joint Proposal 2018 Ivana Rakshit & Shailee Dave
Content Our Intent
1
Modulus Operandi
2
Budget
4
Itinerary
5
About Us
11
1
Our Intent Architecture has been shaping the world as we see it since time immemorial. Throughout history, humans have always found ingenious ways to take advantage of their existing geographic conditions with the prevailing technology. Certain principles, techniques, features remained constant over the centuries, even though their initial purpose may have become obsolete. It gave the vernacular architecture a character that transcended through time. Buddhist architecture is one of the cornerstones of Indian architecture influencing temples and palaces across our country. Having studied architecture in India, we have been exposed to Buddhist architecture and how it has transformed over the centuries. Buddhist architecture made its first appearance in India in the form of the Sanchi Stupa in the third century B.C., under Emperor Ashoka. The umbrella-shaped ‘world tree’ surmounting it was the origin of the various types of pagoda developed throughout the Far East.1 Buddhism entered China in the first century A.D. and brought with it Buddhist and Indian architecture. The pagodas built 5 A.D. onwards had influences of the post-and-beam style of Indian temples. The pagoda form derives from that of the stupa and of towers symbolizing Mount Meru in India.2 As they moved into Japan, the design of the pagodas became more and more ornate and ceremonial. The buildings of China and Japan inherited the concave roofs, corbels and cantilevers from the stupas and Indian temple architecture. These also influenced the hierarchical and courtyard style architecture of the houses as well. It has been said that thanks to globalization, architecture all over the world looks exactly the same. While this might be true in some aspects, this vision is rather simplistic. Thanks to this realization, architects today are striving to rediscover traditional techniques. China, Japan and South Korea are leaders in this front. Not only are these countries booming rapidly, their architecture remains distinct and unique to their culture. Today, India is also progressing at a similar pace, but our architecture is yet to catch on to the global explosion of shiny new buildings. The existing architecture is rooted in traditions, and vastu governs a lot of our small scale building design. However when it comes to larger buildings and contemporary architecture, our glorious temple columns get lost in the aluminum cladding. As the future of architecture in India, we believe it is important for us to learn how architects in these countries are able to successfully create contemporary architecture that draws from its past and leaps into the future.
1 Encyclopedia of World Architecture Volume 2, Macmillan, p.261 2 Encyclopedia of World Architecture Volume 2, Macmillan, p.310
2
Our Modus Operandi Videography: 1 second of everyday In a riveting TED Talk back in 2012, Cesar Kuriyama demonstrated the power of ‘1 second of everyday’: a beautifully crafted minute-long montage documenting a single second of every day. Through our expedition, we aim to capture a similar yet unique perspective into our two muses: architecture and culture. As young designers, this gives us the opportunity to take off our rose-tinted glasses to view the reach of architecture in the routine lives of people. The two videos will be a great way to separately view the deeply intertwined architecture and culture of the region. Interaction The best way to understand the process of a design is to interact with the designers themselves. We intend to visit two architecture offices in each country: speak to the architects and learn their philosophy and take notes on their process. It will be a great way to learn about their projects and what they envision for the future.
Source: flicker.com
3
The Journey
China
-
South Korea
-
Japan
Tokyo 3 Kyoto Seoul
Shanghai 1
2
4
5
Osaka
4
The Money
Shanghai
Total
Cost Flight Intercity transporation Lodging Food Entry passes for sight seeing
Seoul
Total
Flight Intercity transporation Lodging Food Entry passes for sight seeing
Intercity transporation Lodging Food Entry passes for sight seeing
Total
Total Travel Expenses http://www.budgetyourtrip.com
2 2 2 2 2
1 5 5 5 5
1000 70 490 280 140 0 1980 Total
2 2 2 2 2
No. of people
360 100 500 350 200 0 1510 Total
200 40 60 25
1 7 7 7
2 2 2 2
400 560 840 350
100
N/A
2
200 2350
No. of days
No. of people
Total
15 45 20
6 6 6
2 2 2
180 540 240
20
6
2
240 1200
Cost Intercity transporation Lodging Food Entry passes for sight seeing Flight Back to Chiacgo
Total
No. of people
No. of days
Cost
Osaka
1 7 7 7 N/A
180 10 50 35 20
Flight Intercity transporation Lodging Food Entry passes for sight seeing
No. of people
No. of days
Cost
Kyoto
Total
500 5 35 20 70
Cost
Tokyo
Total
No. of days
No. of days
No. of people
Total
16 40 20
5 5 5
2 2 2
160 400 200
10 850
5 1
2 2
100 1700 2560 9,600 USD
5
The Trip Destination 1: China “Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.”
― Napoléon Bonaparte
A civilization 5000-years in the making, China is one the most culturally and economically rich countries in the world. Traditional Chinese architecture is largely inspired from China’s religious culture of the three main teachings: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. The way China has embraced modernism and still preserves its cultural heritage is worth documenting. China will be our first stop as we make our way down the path following the spread of Buddhism. Shanghai (7 days) Shanghai is China’s one of the most colossal cities. As a city, Shanghai has also seen architectural revolution like Chicago and is one of the few cities which has the most Art-Deco buildings. 1933 Slaughterhouse, Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai Exhibition Center are few of the buildings that still follow the Art Deco Style which will be interesting to compare with Chicago’s Art-Deco buildings. Shanghai has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of mainland China; renowned for its Lujiazui skyline, and museums and historic buildings, such as those along The Bund, as well as the City God Temple and the Yu Garden.3 Chinese architecture is in many ways inspired from traditional Indian architecture. The most tangible evidence of influence on Chinese architecture from India is the pagoda building which is inspired from the Indian Stupa. The Jing’an Temple which is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Shanghai is about 800 years old is an example of rich culture of traditional Chinese architecture. Shanghai has few of the world’s tallest buildings. The Shanghai world financial center, is a 101 story skyscraper that adds to the skyline of Shanghai city. The top most part of the building has a rectangular aperture that draws its from the form the Chinese gateway called Paifang. The Shanghai tower, a 2073ft skyscraper designed by Gensler, is an embodiment of sustainable design and was also the inspiration for our studio project design. As a part of firm visit, we would like to visit the Chinese firm MAD Architects. In the book LEGO architecture, MAD architecture mentions, “At MAD, we want to build on the Chinese of Asian tradition of architecture to create spaces that are less sterile and more evocative and socilly engaged.” This is a vision that both of us believe in, and it will be a great opportunity for us to learn from them. Over the last decade, MAD Architects has won a number of highly prestegious awards and has put China on the map of international architecture.
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai
Source: flicker.com
7
The Trip Destination 2: South Korea Host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea will be the second stop on our trip. South Korea’s tumultuous history has resulted in an interesting melange of architectural styles and designs, primarily the Buddhist and Chinese architectural styles. What remains uniquely of Korean architecture are the Hanok houses and Ondol flooring panels. Today, South Korea excels mainly in two aspects of architecture: residential and commercial/retail. Both typologies are closely linked to some of Korea’s most defining cultural aspects, which are focused on how other people perceive an individual; the age and social stratification, and their high regard for tradition.4 Seoul (5 days) Majority of South Korea’s modern and contemporary architecture is concentrated in and around Seoul. The traditional heart of Seoul is the old Joseon Dynasty city, now the downtown area, where most palaces, government offices, corporate headquarters, hotels, and traditional markets are located.5 We will first visit Bukchon Hanok Village, a Korean traditional village in Seoul with a long history located between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine. Having seen these fine specimens of Korean traditional architecture, we will focus on the modern developments. Next on our list is the Cheonggyecheon river Restoration Project. The Lotte World Tower, by Kohn Pedersen Fox is a stunning example of how Korean culture has influenced the design of the 5th tallest building in the world in 2017. The Ga On Jai House by Iroje KHM Architects is a great example of how contemporary residential architecture has incorporated traditional concepts. On this front we will visit their office and take a peek into their design process. Moon Hoon is another leading architect from South Korea whose work is inspiring. We intend to visit his office and some projects. South Korea is one of the world’s largest consumers of luxury retail products and as a result many brands are moving into the country. This has made retail architecture in Seoul is very prominent. The House of Dior will be one of the many buildings on our list whose design has been influenced by Korean culture. Jeju Island (2 days) Jeju Island is a beautiful volcanic island and popular vacation destination. Our main target will be to tour sites such as a Tadao Ando-designed meditation and art complex; the volcanic cliffs of Jusangjeolli; a traditional island village; and Samseonghyeol Shrine, the legendary birthplace of the island’s three main clans. We also plan to visit additional architectural sites designed by Tadao Ando or Jun Itami, such as the Bonte Museum, Pinx Biotopia, Podo Hotel and Church of the Sky. Apart from relishing Tadao Ando’s architecture, we will be able to soak in the natural wonders of this volcanic island. 4 https://www.modlar.com/how-contemporary-south-korean-architecture-is-making-a-name-for-itself 5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul Architecture
Source: flicker.com
9
The Trip Destination 3: Japan Well-known as the “Land of rising sun”, Japan will be the final destination of our journey. Japanese culture has been widely influenced by Buddhism from China. Japanese cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have marked their influence on the world by showing technological and architectural advancement. Tokyo (7 days) Tokyo’s history has a great influence on it’s architecture. Our first stop at Tokyo would definitely be Japan’s only architectural model museum, the Archi-Depot Museum, that houses 116 different architectural models from various architects. We would also be visiting the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, a museum of historic Japanese buildings. Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, which is the 17th tallest building in Japan is designed by Kenzo Tange Architects, and is inspired from nature. It is one of the most distinctive high rise towers that has three different schools in it. We will also visit Yoyogi National Gymnasium, another famous work by Kenzo Tange. World’s second tallest structure, Tokyo Skytree will also be on our list. The Tokyo metropolitan Memorial hall designed by Kunio Maekawa is one of the few buildings that has successfully incorporated the features of modern and traditional architecture as it creates an impression that embraces both the past and present of Tokyo. It is one of few cities in the world that is lucky enough to have architects come and design from across the world like Le Corbusier, Richard Rogers,Ricardo Bofil, Renzo Piano, Peter Eisenman, SOM. Observing the works of these architects would also help us learn the approach to their design and how the city has incorporated these buildings into its cultural environment. Kyoto (6 days) Kyoto has a plethora of cultural sights, from ancient palaces to hidden temples and a number of world famous UNESCO sites. Apart from traditional architecture we would like to visit the Kyoto National museum which is designed by the renowned Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi which is one of the best examples of contemporary architecture inspired from traditional architecture. Tadao Ando has designed the Garden of Fine Arts which also exploits the relationship between the contemporary and traditional Japanese architecture. We would also like to visit one of the upcoming firms in Kyoto, Nendo Architects, who are designing the master plan for the 6000-square-metre site at Tenri Station and their design is inspired from ancient Japanese tombs for landscape architecture. Apart from visiting architectural sights, we wil also be availing a tour package. The package includes an intimate tour of a traditional Japanese townhouse and workshops for Origami, Woodblock prints, calligraphy and Kimono wearing.
10
Osaka (5 days) Tadao Ando has always inspired us by his complex yet minimalistic approach to designs, which draw inspiration from natural environments. We would definitely like to visit his firm in Osaka, which also does exhibitions of Ando’s work from time to time. Ando perfected the basic form of his signature architecture characteristic by designing houses which is a receptacle for the fundamental human act of dwelling. One of his famous works in Osaka is the Row House in Sumiyoshi. The Church of Light, Ando’s most praised pieces, is an epitome of how light and wind with are put to work in simple and minimalistic forms. Built in the footprint of the old Osaka baseball stadium, Namba Park is also one of the famous architectural attractions in Osaka that symbolises a gateway that redefines Osaka’s identity. It is an office complex which is also a shopping mall with an eight level rooftop garden that spans several city blocks and features tree groves, rock clusters, cliffs and canyons, lawns, streams, waterfalls, ponds and even space to grow vegetables.
Source: flicker.com
11
Why Us Ivana Rakshit I am a strong believer that architecture must respond to its surroundings and there is no better inspiration than traditional architecture. The works of Tadao Ando and Kenzo Kuma have always been a great inspiration for me. I am also fascinated by Japanese and Korean culture. Growing up, I was the biggest fan of origami, anime, k-drama and Korean movies, to the point where I did not need subtitles! Over the years, I may have forgotten the language but their architecture continues to draw me.
Education & Achievements University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Master of Architecture, focus on Technology and Performance
August 2016 - Current CGPA: 3.76 / 4.0
National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India July 2011 – April 2016 Bachelor of Architecture, minor in Energy Efficient Buildings CGPA: 8.74 / 10 Gold Medal for Highest CGPA in Architecture, Batch of 2016 Academic Achievement Award (Years 2011-’12, 2012-’13, 2015-’16) Our Own English High School, Fujairah, UAE 2009 – 2011 Higher Secondary, Central Board of Secondary Education 93.8 % Class XII Central Board Examination Gold Medal from GEMS Group for Highest Score in East Coast Region of UAE Graduated with Full Schollarship from GEMS Group
Work Experience RailTEC, UIUC
June 2017 – May 2018
Graphic Designer, Part-time WATG Irvine, California
May 2017 – August 2017 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - Gained great experience working on a renovation project and Code compliant modifications. - Worked on development of full scale, co-ordinated Revit model of the renovation project. - Played key role in visualizing conceptual urban design development for a masterplan. - Valuable experience of team work in a team based studio set up.
X-Architects, Dubai, UAE
June 2015 – November 2015 Professional Training (Internship Semester - part of Undergraduate Curriculum) - Received a wholesome training in all aspects of an architectural project. - Worked on the design of 5 projects including masterplans and plans of individual villas. - Also worked on detail drawings and scale models of projects. - Went on multiple site visits and got firsthand experience of the construction process.
Shailee Dave I have grown up in a city that has been known for its history, culture and traditional architecture. My undergraduate research thesis was also based on how organically formed traditional streets have helped maintain and preserve the cultural heritage of our city and how it binds the people as a part of community living as compared to the western part of the city where wide streets, gated communities and thresholds have segregated the neighborhood interaction. I observed that traditional Chinese houses are also very similar to traditional Indian houses where they follow the system of having a central courtyard in the house and having intricate details on structural supports of the house. My interest grew towards Japanese architecture when I took Professor Bognar’s seminar “Japanese Architecture and Globalization” which exposed me to the transformation of Japanese architecture from traditional to rebellious to minimalistic and to modern. I would be really fascinating for me if I have the opportunity to observe what I have learnt over my past years.
Education & Achievements University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Master of Architecture, focus on Health and Wellbeing
August 2016 - Current CGPA: 3.81 / 4.0
Institute of Architecture, HNGU, India Bachelor of Architecture, foucs on Urban Design
July 2011 – April 2016 CGPA: 3.75 / 5.0
Work Experience Research Assistant, UIUC
September 2017 – May 2018
-Assisting Professor Kathryn Anthony in writing a chapter in the book “Mental and Behavioral Health Facilities”. - Finding images and illustrations and seeking copyright permissions for the book proposal “Designing Iconic Images: How Movies Create and Reflect Memorable Places” in cinema. - Helping with upcomming conference and presenations Chicago Park Districts,Chicago Summer Intern
June 2017 – August 2017
- Surveying parks and recreational facilities in Chicago to check its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/Illinois Accessibility Code/ Chicago Building Code initiatives to create a fully accessible park system. -Making reports of observation and identifying ways to improve accessibility to facilities. - Reviewing construction details for proposed park designs and redevelopment of existing park facilities. Benchmark Architects and Consultants, INDIA Junior Architect
June 2015 – June 2016
-Working with Architects, Civil and Structural Engineers and Construction Management teams. -Involved in conceptual planning and design development. -Preparing technical drawings for the execution on site.
12
As a Team There are many reasons that lead us to believe that a joint proposal for the Edward L. Ryerson Traveling Fellowship will be most befitting our goals. Individually, we both have had similar backgrounds in architecture and as a team we also share similar interests. We discovered this compatibility while working as a team in our third semester studio, Redesigning the Chicago Spire under Professor Botond Bognar. Our design was greatly inspired by the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China, designed by Gensler. To see this building in person will be a dream for both of us. In addition, this partnership and friendship that developed out of our studio project has got us thinking about opening a joint practice in the future. We believe an architectural expedition of this nature will be an excellent opportunity for both of us to develop a better understanding if not only architecture, but also each other, as architects. Moreover, we each have been admirers of Tadao Ando, Kenzo Tange, Kengo Kuma and other Japanese architects long before we met, here in UIUC. Naturally, both of our first choice of location for this Fellowship was South East Asia.
S
O
Shailee’s background in Japanese Architecture through Prof. Bognar’s seminar, better understanding of traditional and contemporary styles. Ivana is very good at photography.
See first hand buildings and architects that we have studied and admired. Meet architects who have inspired us. Develop a stronger partnership which hopefully leads us into our future aspirations.
W
T
Language will be a barrier for us when we move around in these countries, but that is part of the challenge and Google will be our guiding light.
Shailee is a vegetarian and might have fun finding food.
Inspire Tower, Chicago Studio Project Fall 2017, Final Review
Thank you.