Finding Tempo Giusto | Thesis

FINDING FINDING TEMPO TEMPO GIUSTO: GIUSTO: Slowing Time in Space Through Architecture

PEMA WANGZOME

FINDING TEMPO GIUSTO: Slowing Time in Space Through Architecture

PEMA WANGZOME

THESIS IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE HAMMONS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, DRURY UNIVERSITY

DR. SAUNDRA WEDDLE FALL 2014

1

content

Introduction Preface 7 Finding Tempo Giusto 9 The Illusion of saving Time 13

4 Program Program Visit Linger Remember

5 Case Studies

45 47 49 51

Columbia Medical school Ă˜restad College Nap Pods Bruder Klaus Chapel

55 59 63 67

2 Research Praising Slowness Salarymen Hours over Man Saving 10,000

3 Site

17 21 25 29

6 Conclusion Conclusion 71

Tokyo 35 Shinbashi Station 39

7 Reference Image Index 73 Endnotes 75 Bibliography 79 Acknowledgment 83

Preface Today, humans are in a rush to save time.

What

exactly do we save time for? With the use of technology to speed time, we have only created more work, and less family time. How can one slow down time? The answer could be architecture. Architecture is inscribed in space and time.1 Although space and time are two different things, they are intertwined so that one cannot isolate them. Thus, time and space must influence each other. Today, architecture sees time controlling space as buildings are designed to meet the needs and desires of the present inhabitants. Time is in control of how a building is designed, constructed and used. Space is way behind in its capabilities to control time. Humans are enslaved by time as speed is welcomed and slowness is shunned. Humans are always in a rush to save time, which is why they get trapped in the vicious cycle of never being able to slow down.

What is wrong with living the fast life? Many things.

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“Be fast when it makes sense to be fast, and be slow when slowness is called for. Seek to live at what musicians call the tempo giusto - the right speed�.2

Finding Tempo Giusto Technology societies; way

time

through

has

accelerated

coincidentally, creates the

city

pseudo-experiences

the

cities

experiences. has

now

mediated

pace have An been

of

modern

altered

the

engaged

walk

replaced

through

by

gadgets.

Computers have changed one’s way of processing thoughts and experiences. Memories, leisure, and family have been replaced by the need to accelerate time for work. The thesis explores architecture as a tool to manipulate the perception of time by offering spaces that rupture people’s accelerated lifestyle in finding a balance that highlights quality living.

While some believe that architects should forget that architecture could save the world, not everybody agrees. Architecture can provide tools that people can use to save the world.

Imagine a driver slowing

down his car to look at something extraordinary happening on a street that grabs his attention.

Architecture could do something like that. Instead of the driver slowing down for a split second to look at the unusual activity happening on the street, architecture can do much better at attracting his attention for more than just a second, in the process

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attention for more than just a second, in the process slowing time. Although it is important to differentiate between outrageous architecture who’s goal is to attract attention and meaningful architecture that naturally attracts attention. This is why the thesis will explore how spaces that have been created with conscious decision and architectural knowledge, can influence people to visit, linger and then remember the experience. Although the thesis is a hypothesis and will not be built, it puts forth an experiment that challenges the way people associate space and time.

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“Try to imagine a life without time keeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week.

There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car.

You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone measures time. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out”. 3

The Illusion of Saving Time Man use time as a framework to guide daily, yearly, or life- time activities. The research started with concern for how technology has changed the way societies function and how that has affected the quality of life.

The fast attachment to digital technology has improved life styles and made work easier and more enjoyable but like many things, it has negative aspects. Information technology connects families and friends that are half way across the globe but it has also created digital personas that alienate individuals from their real life.

With modern technology, humans take pride in a new phenomenon called multi-tasking, where several tasks can be completed at one go. For instance, during breakfast one can be checking emails and talking over the phone. While people may argue that this is a good way to save time, Sherry Turkle states that this has led to the inability to give one another full attention. Turkle cites an example of a teenager who avoids telephone conversation over texting because she can be in contact with more people at once.4 Humans

need

to

critically

evaluate

the

use

of

technology and how it has crawled into every aspect of our lives to control, manipulate and change`

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genuine human connections.

The boundary between

reality and virtual has blurred, and it is disturbing that some prioritize their virtual image over real image. There is alienation and a high level of superficiality as people filter their thoughts and images to post on social media.5 There are many reasons why technology is used but ultimately it is to save time. Technology was created to increase work efficiency and profits with also the hope of using the saved time for family and leisure activities.6 The industrial revolution not only created job opportunities and made work more efficient in terms of time; it changed the way societies functioned. With the lower classes moving near industries, architecture changed to include residence for the laborers in the work zones. This allowed the boss to control his employees, but more importantly it allowed the workers to be more efficient by reducing their commute to work. As the years passed, the demand for technology has increased but the reasons for the exactly do humans save time for? One would think for leisure, but really, people work harder and spend less time on leisure activities as technology advances.

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“When you feel tired all the time and like you’re just going through the motions, getting through the many things on your To-Do list but not engaging with them deeply or enjoying them very much. You don’t remember things as vividly when you rush through them. You feel like you’re racing through your life instead of actually living it. Illnesses are often the body’s way of saying “enough already, slow down!”7

Praising Slowness Carl Honoré, the author of In Praise of Slowness is part of a movement that believes that faster is not always better. He states that humans like the adrenaline rush that comes with speed creating an addiction.

He talks about slowing time not in terms of a snail’s pace but slowing time in finding the right speed.8 How can one understand what “right time” is? Honoré’s answer is that quality should be given priority over quantity.9 One needs to savor time and do the things well rather than quickly. Essentially, humans need to pause, realize what they are doing and then resume at a slower pace where they can enjoy what they do.

The attempt at slowing time has been happening for the last 200 years such is the case of the romantics, transcendentalists and hippies. These people broke from the rigid pace of life by doing what they liked.

They chose quality over quantity. The only critique is that in their process, they detached completely from their societies.10 How can one get in touch with their “inner tortoise”, break away from the speedaddicted society without detaching completely? The answer is as simple as taking it easy, doing everyday things at a slower pace and not rushing. Individuals FINDING TEMPO GUISTO|

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need to change the way they think, and reduce the need for acceleration. This change can be brought about by the space humans interact with daily, space that slowly educates and changes the way humans think to eventually deviate from the current fast life.

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“A man without memories is just a shell11.” – Mitch Albom

Salaryman Figure 1

Salaryman The an

perception illusion;

salaryman.

that

time A

Japanese

controls

typical

control

them,

salaryman

time

is

especially

a

is

a

middle

class, university graduate with a dependent wife and children to support. They are suited whitecollar

office

workers

[Figure

1]that

associate

the

economic transformation Japan underwent after its destruction in World War Two. They represent typical Japanese

masculinity,

from male citizens.

12

work

life,

and

expectations

Salarymen consider work over

everything else because the society forces gender dichotomy, with men having to lead the work force to be considered manly.13 Marriage is seen as a natural thing to do because everybody does it.14 The salaryman lifestyle is a cyclic routine of home, train station and office as they follow a rigid time frame. This is seen in Jake Knight’s Salaryman 6, a short film depicting the life of a salaryman.15 The protagonist is Shiode, an employee of a trading company. He is a typical salaryman whose life revolves around work. One day he wakes up with no memory of the previous day, which influences him into recording his life. Thus he begins to carry a camera that FINDING TEMPO GUISTO|

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Salaryman Daily Routine Figure 2

automatically takes pictures at certain hours through the day. After four days, he checks his photographs to realize that his life has no present, past or future because it is all the same. A robotic routine of leaving home, traveling to work via train, office, convenience store to get a quick dinner, and then back to home.

The film is effective in conveying what salarymen go through. The repetitive camera shots of the long corridors, the always busy train station, and the computer-oriented work place reinforces the boring and meaningless life of the protagonist[Figure 2].

The boundaries between work and personal space have blurred with a life devoid of leisure activity as a salaryman tries to meet the expectations of working over time. Frustrated salarymen liberate themselves from this problem by resigning, while some take the more extreme path; suicide. In fact japan is known for that, as about 30,000 people commit suicide yearly in Japan. 10% is said to be due to work related issues.16

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“The Nameless worker, the empty jacket- that could be anybody17.� -Shiho Fukada

Hours Over Men Shiho

Fukada’s

Disposable

project

Worker,”

18

looks

“Making at

of

Japanese

“Japan’s workers

who commit suicide from depression due to lack of sleep and pressure from overwork. In her extensive research she includes interviews with the families of suicide victims as to why and how they did it. The “why” is always because of pressure from work, and the added pressure from the society that considers depression

as

a

sign

of

weakness. The

families

are oblivious to the depressive state of a family member since everybody is forced to understand that work equals pressure.

The fear of losing their

job position and status in society is why they hold on until they break and commit suicide. The widow of a suicide victim describes how her husband went out of his way to travel to the town where he lived with his wife as newly weds and threw himself on a moving train. This shows that there was nothing worth remembering from his recent life, hence he traveled back in time to a happy memory, which was the wedding that took place three decades ago.

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Sayota Nakahara Figure 3

The poignancy of work stress and dissatisfaction is not lost with the dead; there are several living victims who chose resignation over suicide. Such a man is Syota Nakahara [Figure 3], a 30-year-old former employee of a software company. Despite the fear of losing his status in society and becoming homeless,

his

psychological

distress

made

him

resign. At one point he was unable to register scenery, day, season or time; his focus was just the computer on his desk. Everything was a blur.

This

led him to sue his company. Syota is a rare case of fighting by resigning; many do not have the strength to do that so they commit suicide. This shows that salarymen are at the boss’s disposal.

The company does not care for their well being, for all they care for is the work being accomplished.19

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“I’m worthless. I have nothing. I can’t find reason to live20.” – suicide victim

The Complete Manuel of Suicide Figure 4

Saving 10,000 Rene Duignan’s documentary Saving 10,000: Winning a War on Suicide in Japan21 asks, “in a war on suicide, who is the enemy?” Duignan discovers that the cause is multifaceted with work stress being a major factor but including others like life insurance incentives, the Japanese’s romantic interpretation of suicide and the way the society burdens men with the idea that real men are invincible. It is ridiculous that a victim has to call 30-40 times to get through the hot line, thus giving up on reaching out for help. People are often seen connecting online to die together.21 This is an interesting phenomenon because if they can befriend to die, why not to listen and help each other? There is a possible solution that these men are oblivious to. The society sees suicide as a romantic gesture, since the Japanese laymen look up to famous people who have given their lives. “How to Kill Yourself,” is a book [Figure 4] that is on the bestseller list.22 The government does not do much in trying to stop

this

growing

problem.

Suicide

attempters

who end up in the emergency rooms are sent home with a mere warning to not do it again. There is no follow up or advice to go see a psychiatrist.23

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Blue Lights in Train Stations Figure 5

And if they do enter a mental institution, it is difficult mere

to

get

businesses

out

because

run

by

the

institutions

private

are

companies.

Recently, train stations started incorporating blue lights (light therapy) [Figure 5], this trivial gesture from the government has been the most effective in reducing suicide rates, even though it is a miniscule step.24 Counseling and group therapies are not reliable remedies because not all companies adopt them.

Even if they

do, there is still the stigma of being singled out as the weak amongst co-workers. Duignan interviews a former policeman, who after retirement relocated to a suicide prone town. He gathers volunteers to patrol the cliff side to look for potential suicide attempters [Figure 6]. In the last 6 years, this one-person initiative encountered 297 people, out of which only 4 committed suicide.25 This shows that the depressed people do not need elaborate therapy centers; all they need is to slow down, break from their robotic cycle, and have genuine human interaction.

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Popular Suicide Cliff Figure 6

What they need are not manuals on how to kill oneself, but somebody to listen or talk to and have

human

connection.

Humans

are

social

creatures and thus the need for social interaction is inherent.

The pace of living needs to slow down,

so one can actually live and not just pass by.

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“Urban life itself acts as a giant particle accelerator.

When people move to the city, they start to do everything faster26.�- Carl Honore

Site Tokyo A space that slows time will be wasteful in a rural area where time is already perceived to be slow.

It will be beneficial in an urban area where things are fast paced. A city, which has capitulated to technology and lost connection with what it means to live simply, is a probable site for the thesis proposal.

Since the thesis looks at salarymen as the main users, it is only natural to choose Tokyo as the site.

An urban setting like a city is known for its fast paced lifestyle, but is it worthy of praise?

Leisure

time is sacrificed for work time. Japan is known for

its

massive

industries

based

on

technology,

with Tokyo named the most advanced city in the world.27

Tokyo,

with

a

population

of

13,196,000

people, makes up 68.3% of Japan’s productive age population.

28

Technology has been incorporated in

every aspect of life to increase efficiency in work places

while

rapidly

decreasing

quality

of

living.

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Trains + Salarymen Figure 7

Tokyo caters to neighboring suburbs and cities with easy

and

[Figure

7]

quick

transit

connections.

have “sucked

the

Bullet

country’s

trains

workforce

into Tokyo,”29 which has put a lot of strain on job competition.

This

has

led

to

overcrowding

and

competition in the workforce and the increase in number of salarymen. Especially with the innovation of technology, it has created the infamous non-paid overtime work culture, whereby a salaryman works an average of

2,703 hours per year in Tokyo30 which is

about 51 hours per week. Karoshi, death due to workrelated stress, and karojisatsu, suicide are common phenomena in the metropolis.31 In fact, stress is five times more lethal than traffic accidents in Japan, and one of the leading causes of death in men.32 With all of that in mind, there is a great need of intervention in the way the salarymen work and live. Introducing a means to slow work time to include social time could be an answer to their dissatisfaction with life.

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Site Location Figure 8

Shinbashi Station With eleven million commuters, Tokyo has one of the busiest transport networks in the world.33 Time is controlled by the way Japanese travel to work. A train station is a viable location because of its unceasing travel activity. It sees a wide range of users, shows the advancement in technology, and the working environment in Tokyo. Moreover, it is a portal where time is accelerated as seen in how even a second’s delay sees much apology and remorse. The train stops for no one.

Having a space designed that

decelerates time could get to the heart of the problem.

A station becomes an important marker in the routine life of a salary man, as it is the node from which he gets to and back from work. Site selection was focused on proximity to a dense urban transit center that catered to offices rather than tourists or shopping. Although there are several mega transit stations in Tokyo, Shinbashi is ideal for the research proposal as the station is located in the business part of the city with 250,682 recorded users per day in 201234. The area [Figure 8] itself is dotted with office towers, electronic stores, bars and

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SL Plaza, Shinbashi Station Figure 9

restaurants, The

making

station

is

an

this

a

ideal

salary

location

of

man

hub.35

intervention

on their route to work and can provide a range of opportunities to alter his mundane life style.

Shinbashi Station has a plaza called SL Plaza on its west exit with no particular program and a C11 type steam locomotive for display [Figure 9]. The plaza appears like a dull void that has not been used to its

maximum

capacity,

especially

considering

its

advantageous proximity to the station and adjacent business centers. In order to develop the proposal, it will be essential to use this site due to the existing use as a pedestrian walk.

The thesis will explore

on how to break the walk so the users stop and experience the space.

It will be a new urban public

space, which engages the robotic salaryman to break down his notion of work time to live a better life.

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Site Study Figure 10

The idea of distorting the monotonous route of the salary men by providing a socially rich interactive space works best on the site due to it being a plaza, and also because of its close proximity to business centers and the station, and but most importantly because the site is a node on the daily route of the salary men, working in that area.

[Figure 10]

Since the area is dotted with tall buildings, it will be essential to lay out the programs in a tower form to relate to the surrounding. It should not blend into the surrounding because the objective is to create a unique space that grabs the salarymen’s attention. Since Tokyo is so crowded, disorienting and loud, the proposal should contrast (in form and program) to that in order to really grab the user’s attention.

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“The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquility to make meaningful connectionswith people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds36. “ – Carl Honore

Program The program attempts to go beyond the current therapy

based

solutions. The

therapy

solution

is

inadequate since not all employers adopt it and, further, the there is no guarantee that the therapies will work. There will be a greater impact if the individuals

themselves

came

to

realize

how

and

when to slow time. The imbalance in work and home environment can be equalized if only they had

something

to

break

their

demanding

daily

routine. That something should be a space that exerts

the

ideas

of

visit,

linger

and

remember.

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Visit For visit, the space will have to contain some aspects of their daily activities; if not, the salaryman will not go out of his way to visit a new place. There has to be familiarity and a need for him to visit the new place. A salaryman visits either a convenience store, a bar, or a restaurant after work to get quick cheap snack to eat, a drink with boss, or to have dinner with friends.37 He is also sometimes seen napping at odd places (street furniture, and train stations) since chances are that he missed the last train home, or has no time to go home. The offices does not accommodate nap areas. Therefore, it makes sense to include a convenience store, a restaurant and bar, and nap pods. These daily needs in the space will attract salaryman to visit.

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Linger For linger, the space has to offer something that engages the salaryman. Besides the needs that they recognize, such tables,

as

the a

space

short

traditional

could

film

offer

theater,

Japanese

other

manga

game

activities, discussion

tables,

and

plazas for interaction. This will not only engage them individually but will also provide a group based interaction that offers a prospective platform for relationship building. The interaction is crucial in getting them to

realize that others share their

distress. The goal of the interaction is to create a sense of lingering, which naturally slows down time.

It is significant to note that these new activities will have to fuse with the needed programs to make the salaryman visit and linger subsequently.

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Time + Interaction Relation Figure 11

Remember To remember, the mix and match of the activities discussed

under

visit

and

linger

should

create

a memory. Their autopilot fast paced life makes it difficult to recall anything, thus the proposed spaces should try to comprehensively turn off the autopilot mode. The mixing of spaces attempts to influence them to interact with others who visit.

An individual may go for a drink after work, but because the space demands him to travel through other spaces, a chance of opportunity is offered to partake in a public activity happening or maybe even start a conversation with another salaryman.

In

general,

learning,

normative

performing,

activities talking

like

and

observing,

walking

are

often taken for granted, but these actions can be analyzed to reinforce their goal, which is social exchange. Exchange is vital in learning and sharing information. In the case of the salaryman, this is absent.

The

mentioned

perception

through

influenced

by

space

activities

sensory and

are

organs time,

relevant and

thus

to

can

be

giving

the

freedom to alter the way activities are performed to

the

experience

being

offered

[Figure

11].

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Program Study Figure 12

several individual actors here, hence the aim is to unite them so they can interact and realize that there are others similar to them. The invisible time bombs that ardently rush the salaryman is diffused by the power of human connections. A public hybridized place that offers all the discussed activities in a tranquil environment that requires the salaryman to register their surrounding, enjoy what they are doing and build human connections at the right speed of time is the desired goal of the thesis [Figure 12].

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Social Cascade Figure 13

Columbia University MGEB New York, NY Diller Scofidio + Renfro 2016 This

building

under

construction

has

a

unique

space called the design cascade, essentially it is a

volumetric

expression

that

not

only

connects

the ground floor to the top most floor, but also connects the

other floors.38 [ Figure 13]. The social

cascade incorporates social and study spaces, which increases

collaboration

and

team-

based

learning.

This is a significant study for inclusion in the thesis proposal. The method of carefully selecting form and functions could help facilitate the harmonic weaving of activities discussed in the visit and linger groups.

The education building is an exemplary model of containing

varied

activities

such

as

classrooms,

study rooms, cafes, auditorium, lounges and outdoor spaces, so that students from different education programs

gather

to

create

new

connections.

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Unique Floor Plates Figure 12

The

angled

floors

and

walls

work

together

to

bring in the maximum amount of light into the building [Figure 14].39 that

has

The use of glass on sides

uninterrupted

dialogue

with

the

sun,

and the angles at which the walls are placed aid the glass in bringing light into the building. This case should be noted as well since the proposed site

has

several

tall

buildings

in

its

proximity

and it will be a struggle to maintain natural light.

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Overlapping Spaces Figure 15

Ă˜restad College Copenhagen, 3XN Architects Denmark 2008

Communication, interaction and synergy as the key

issues the design focuses on, creating open and flexible spaces that can accommodate both individuals and groups. Four boomerang shapes, which repeat on top of each other, represent the principle design idea of the building. Four study zones occupy each floor. The level changes makes the organizational flexibility

as

high

as

possible,

and

enables

the

different teaching and learning spaces to overlap and interact with no distinct border [Figure 15].

The

boomerang

staircase

to

spaces create

pivot

around

opportunities

40

the

central

of

social

interaction. The objective is to enforce students to take responsibility of team work as well as individual work.

The

drum-shaped

volumes

are

the

most

interesting with formal meeting and seminar spaces inside and a deck above it. The deck is an informal relaxation

space,

scattered

with

bean

bags

ideal

for group discussion or simply a nap [Figure 16].41

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Over Head Decks Figure 16

The

project

connection faรงade can

be

excels to

consists

its of

manipulated

by

successfully

outside

environment.

mechanical to

creating

control

louvers light

The that

entering.

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Google Nappods Figure 17

Metronappods Figure 18

Nap Pods Many

global

companies

now

include

designated

nap areas in their offices. For instance Google is well known for its nap pods [Figure 17]. Metronaps is a company that exclusively works on nap pods.

The chair comes with a pod that can be adjusted to

block

the

light.

Introducing

nap

pods

into

office spaces is said to increase productivity, as employees

are

rested

and

happier.42

The

pods

have been scientifically studied to harness energy for the person as he/she rests.43 The benefits of napping as listed by MetroNaps include alertness, productivity, well-being and learning[ Figure 18].44 The

concept

of

napping

away

from

home

was

started with the capsule hotel in Japan, designed by Kisho Kurojawa in 1979. The hotel was designed for salarymen who either was too tipsy to go home or who missed the last train due to overwork. Today, the trend continues. The rent per night is equivalent to us dollar $25- 45. One can rent the room for 5 to 24 hours.45

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Capsule Inn, Shinbashi Figure 19

The proposed site has a capsule hotel [Figure 19] in its vicinity but this new proposal is different from it since it does more than just supply a bed to nap. The integration of nap spaces with public social spaces is what makes the design proposal different. It provides a space with flexible hours for

the

salarymen

to

take

breaks

during

work

hours, or for those who miss their last train home.

The presence of other activities in the area will influence them to participate in social interaction.

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Looking Up Bruder Klaus Figure 20

Bruder Klaus Field Chapel Mechernich, peter Zumthor Germany 2007

The process of building the chapel is an exemplary way of slowing time in space. 112 tree trunks were used to make a tent like shelter, then concrete

was poured over the tree trunks for 24 days after which the tree trunks were burnt to create a unique charred concrete shell.46 The result is a space of timelessness.

With

no

modern

technology,

the

chapel is the purest sense of space conditioned by the natural atmosphere it is built on. The chapel does not have a covered roof thus a timeless connection with nature is made. Zumthor describes it as the “most peaceful and secret spot on earth”.

This

spiritual

quality

imbedded

in

space

[Figure

20] should be looked at for the design proposal; a

healing

space

for

the

distressed

salaryman.

Zumthor’s chapel seems like a time breaker. A person might drive really fast to the location but upon reaching the location, one has to walk on a beaten path [Figure 21] for 20 minutes to arrive at chapel’s triangular door.

48.

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Bruder Klaus Figure 21

Skyspace Figure 22

Just through observing the pictures, one feels like time has frozen. In that moment, only the charred walls, the tiny perforations, the

open sky roof and the passing

of the clouds matter in the space. It will be a delight to be able to repeat a similar language of slowing down time for the thesis proposal. This is similar to artist James Turrell’s Skyspace, an architecture that is made of space and light.49 Skyspaces [Figure 22] are simple forms with aperture open to the sky. Turrell states that the use of light not only reveals things but also obscures it.

This adds another exploration

for the design proposal in that how light can be used with space to heighten sensory perception, which ultimately helps in slowing the perception of time.

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“Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly49.” –Mae West

Conclusion Not too long ago, humans lived in unison with the biological clock of nature, today synthetic time has taken over especially in urban settings. Clocks are ticking everywhere; time is always running out and so is the quality of life. “I don’t have time, I can’t make time, or time is so fast” are things one hear everyday. If this is our life and we are in control, why is time controlling us? One needs time to organize daily activities but to let it over rule the way one lives is a big pity. We need to stop this maddening love for speed by finding the right time to do things so they are carried out but also has space for quality living. I may sound like a romantic fool in stating that architecture can solve this problem but I think it really can. Architecture can facilitate solutions to the issue by breaking the routine controlled by time. The thesis proposal will explore the conscious creation of spaces that can manipulate the perception of time.

The ultimate goal is to slow down, not to go against speed, but to find a balance that ensures quality of life.

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Image Index Figure 1....

Salaryman, Google Image

Figure 2....

Screen Capture from Salaryman 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otWl3Zu1Mr4

Figure 3....

Syota Nakahara, Shiho Fukada. http://www.shihofukada.com/#!/index

Figure 4....

The Complete Manual of Suicide, http://ontdcreepy.livejournal.com/148005.html

Figure 5....

Figure 6....

Blue Lights, http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33622388/ns/health-mental_health/t/tokyo-train-stationsuse-lights-stem-suicides/#.VHSGV1a3nRo

Figure 7....

Popular Suicide Area, Google Image .

Trains+Salaryman.http://howibecametexan.com/2012/10/27/how-to-survive-the-last-train-in-japan/

Figure 8....

Site Location,Author. Bing Map.

Figure 9....

Figure 10....

Site Study, Author. Google Maps

SL Plaza, Google Earth Image, Author.

Figure 11....

Time+ Interaction relation, Author.

Figure 12....

Program Study, Author.

Figure 13....

Social Cascade, http://www.archdaily.com/251141/diller-scofidio-renfro-unveils-new-columbiauniversity-medical-building/ Unique Floor Plates, http://www.archdaily.com/251141/diller-scofidio-renfro-unveils-new-columbiauniversity-medical-building/

Figure 14....

Figure 15....

Figure 16....

OverlappingSpaces.http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/19/orestad-college-copenhagen-by-3xnarchitects/ Over head Decks, http://www.dezeen.com/2007/10/19/orestad-college-copenhagen-by-3xn-

Figure 17....

architects/ Google Nap Pod, Google Image

Figure 18....

Metronap Pod, http://www.metronaps.com

Figure 19....

Capsule Inn Shinbashi, http://www.capsule-inn.com/e/

Figure 20....

Looking up Bruder Klaus, Thoma Mayer, www.archdaily.com

Figure 21....

Bruder Klaus, Samuel Ludwig, www.samueltludwig.com

Figure 22....

Guggenheim Skyspace, Archdaily.

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End Notes 1.

1998).

Lauren Beaudoin, “Manifesto for Slow Architecture,” Architecture + Urbanism, (March

2.

Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed (New York: HarperCollins, 2004), 15.

3.

Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper, Goodreads Quotes.

4.

Sherry Turkle, “Connected, but alone,” TED, (April, 2012), 5.

Ibid 6.

Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed (New York: HarperCollins, 2004).

7.

Carl Honoré, Carl Honoré, http://www.carlhonore.com/books/in-praise-of-slowness/ Honoré, Carl.

8.

Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed (New York: HarperCollins, 2004).

9.

Ibid 10.

Ibid 11.

Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper, Goodreads Quotes.

12.

Romit Dasgupta, Re-reading the Salaryman in Japan: Crafting Masculinities (Australia: Routledge, 2012).

13.

14.

Ibid., 84.

Ibid., 106

15.

Salaryman 6, directed by Jake Knight (2002; UK: Eyecandy and Onedotzero, 2002).

16.

Saving 10,000: Winning a War on Suicide in Japan, directed by Rene Duignan (2012; Japan) 17.

Shiho Fukada, “ Japan’s Disposable Workers: Lost in the Global Unemployment Crisis,” Pulitzer Center, 2012.

18.

Ibid., 19.

Ibid., 20.

Ibid.,

75

21.

Saving 10,000: Winning a War on Suicide in Japan, directed by Rene Duignan (2012; Japan).

22.

Ibid.,

23.

Ibid.,

24.

Ibid.,

25.

Ibid.,

26.

Carl Honoré, Goodreads Quotes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1157892.

Carl_Honor_ 27. Top 10 Most Advanced Cities in the World in Modern Era.” Travelje, September, 2014. http:// traveljee.com/top-10/top-10-most-advanced-cities-in-the-world/ 28.

“Current Population Estimates as of October, 2011.” Statistics Japan,2011. http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/2011np/ 29.

Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku. “How the Shinkansen Bullet Train Made Tokyo into the Monster it is Today.” The Guardian, September, 2014. http://www.theguardian.com/ cities/2014/sep/30/-sp-shinkansen-bullet-train-tokyo-rail-japan-50-years 30.

Scott North, “Work- Life in Japan: The Past is Prologue.” Boston College: Center for Work and Family. http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/cwf/research/publications/pdf/ BCCWF%20EBS%20Work%20Life%20in%20Japan.pdf 31.

Alvin Leong, “ The Climate Change- Sustainable Development: Nexus a Proposal for Convergence.” Pace University, November 6, 2011. http://digitalcommons.pace.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=lawdissertations 32.

Heenali Patel, “ Japan’s Brutal Work Culture takes a Toll.” Asia Time, February 10, 2014. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/JAP-01-100214.html

33.

2012.

Adam Shergold, “And You Thought Your Commute was bad?” DailyMail, November,

34.

35.

Chris Barnes, “A Melting Pot of Culture and History,” Japan Travel, July, 2013.

Ibid.

36.

Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed (New York: HarperCollins, 2004), 285.

37.

Information compiled from conversation with Kanna Matsuo and Ken, October 2014.

38.

Karissa Rosenfield, “Diller Scofidio +Renfro Unveils New Columbia University Medical Building,” Archdaily, July 2002.

39.

Trent Fredrickson, “Folded Slabs of DS+R Designed Columbia Medical Center Take Shape in NY,” Designboom, November, 2014.

40.

2007.

Marcus Fairs, “Ørestad College, Copenhagen, by 3XN Architects,” Dezeen, October,

41.

Ørestad College, Phaidon Atlas: Architecture for Architects,

42. Scott Stump, “Nap Rooms Encourage Sleeping on the Job to Boost Productivity,” Today Money, March, 2013.

43.

Doug Osborne, “Google Uses High-Tech Nap Pods to Keep Employees Energized,” Geek, June, 2010.

44.

“Benefits of Napping,” Metronaps, http://www.metronaps.com/#whynap

45.

“Capsule Inn Shimbashi,” http://www.capsule-inn.com/e/

46.

“Bruder Klaus Field Chapel,” Architizer, http://architizer.com/projects/bruder-klaus-field-

chapel/

77

47.

Michael Kimmelman, “The Ascension of Peter Zumthor,” The NewYork Times, March 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/magazine/mag-13zumthor-t. html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 48.

Betsy Roxby, “Zumthor’s Brother Klaus Chapel or How I Ended Up On a Farm in Germany,” Design Roxx, June 2009. http://www.roxx.com/2009/06/zumthors-brother-klauschapel-or-how-i-ended-up-on-a-farm-in-germany/ 49.

Beth Broome, “Twilight Epiphany,” Architectural Record, http://archrecord.construction. com/projects/portfolio/2012/07/twilight-epiphany-james-turrell.asp 50.

Mae West, Brainy Quote. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/ maewest163658.html

.

Bibliography Architecture Bruder Klaus Field Chapel, Architizer.

Fairs, Marcus. “Ørestad College, Copenhagen, by 3XN Architects,” Dezeen, October, 2007.

Fredrickson, Trent. “Folded Slabs of DS+R Designed Columbia Medical Center Take Shape in NY,”

Designboom, November, 2014.

Kimmelman, Michael. “The Ascension of Peter Zumthor.” The NewYork Times, March 2011.

Krasner, Leonard. Environmental Design and Human Behavior. New York: Paragon Press, 1980.

Lamar, Anderson. “Architecture and Ethics Activist Design.” Architectural Record Vol.202, No.6

(June, 2014) : 167 Leong, Alvin. “ The Climate Change- Sustainable Development: Nexus a Proposal for

Convergence.” Pace University, November 6, 2011.

Pallasmaa, Juhani. Encounters: Architectural Essays. Helsinki: Rakennustieto, 2005. 70 Rachmawati, Murni. ‘Redefinition function in Architecture: Integration of Nature, Technology and

Humanity.” International Journal of Academic Research 3, no. 2014 (2011) : 429-433 Rosenfield, Karissa. “Diller Scofidio +Renfro Unveils New Columbia University Medical Building,”

Archdaily, July 2002.

Roxby, Betsy .“Zumthor’s Brother Klaus Chapel or How I Ended Up On a Farm in Germany.” Design

Roxx, June 2009.

Shamir, Zion A. “New modern: Architecture in the age of digital technology”, the second half.’ A + U: Architecture and Urbanism, Vol 11, (1999) 120-131.

Smith, Peter F. “Architecture and the Human Dimension.” The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. Vol 41, No.4 (1983) : 450-452 Ørestad College, Phaidon Atlas: Architecture for Architects.

81

Film Salaryman 6. Directed by Jake Knight. 2002; UK: Eyecandy and Onedotzero, 2002.

Saving 10,000: Winning a War on Suicide in Japan, directed by Rene Duignan (2012; Japan)

Japan

Barnes, Chris. “A Melting Pot of Culture and History,” Japan Travel, July, 2013.

Brasor, Philip. Tsubuku, Masako. “How the Shinkansen Bullet Train Made Tokyo into the Monster

it is Today.” The Guardian, September, 2014.

Capsule Inn Shimbashi Dasgupta, Romit. Re-reading the Salaryman in Japan: Crafting Masculinities. Australia: Routledge,

2012. 83,84,106 Fukada, Shiho. “Japan’s Disposable Workers: Lost in the Global Unemployment Crisis.” Pulitzer

Center, 2012.

North, Scott. “Work- Life in Japan: The Past is Prologue.” Boston College: Center for Work and Family.

Patel, Heenali .“ Japan’s Brutal Work Culture takes a Toll.” Asia Time, February 10, 2014.

Shergold , Adam. “And You Thought Your Commute was bad?” DailyMail. November, 2012.

Quotes Albom, Mitch.The Time Keeper. New York: Hyperion, 2012.

West, Mae. Brainy Quote.

Research Beaudoin, Lauren. “Manifesto for Slow Architecture,” Architecture + Urbanism, (March 1998).

Benefits of Napping, Metronap.

Honoré, Carl. In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed. New York: HarperCollins, 2004.

Huth, John E. “Losing Our Way in the World.” Sunday Review (July, 2013) Robinson, Sarah. Nesting: Body Dwelling Mind. China: William Stout Publishers, 2011 Stump, Scott. “Nap Rooms Encourage Sleeping on the Job to Boost Productivity,” Today Money,

March, 2013.

Osborne, Doug “Google Uses High-Tech Nap Pods to Keep Employees Energized,” Geek, June, 2010.

Technology and Alienation Brandon, John. “Is technology making us less human?” Techradar Carr, Nicholas. The shallows: What the Internet is doing to Our Brains. New York: W.W Norton &

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Douglas, Jack. The Technological Threat. New Jersey: Prentice-Hill, 1971.

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Kellner, Douglas. New Technologies and Alienation: Some Critical Reflections.

Lystad, Mary H. “Social Alienation: A Review of Current Literature.” The Sociological Quarterly 13

no.1 (1971) : 90-113 Mangen, Anne. “Hypertext fiction reading: haptics and immersion.” Journal of Research in

Reading Vol 4, no.31(2008) : 404-419 Marino, Stefano. Gadamer and the Limits of the Modern Techno-Scientific Civilization. New York:

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Shane, Ed. Disconnected America: The Consequences of Mass Media in a Narcissistic World. New

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Taylor, Bryce. “Technology Makes ‘Slaves’ of humans.” Yale News (September,2005) Tepas,Donald I. “Computers, Psychology and Work: Does the past predict a troubles future for

this union?” Behavior research Methods 23 (1991) 101-105.

Turkle, Sherry. “Connected, but alone,” TED, (April, 2012).

83

Acknowledgment I would like to take this opportunity to my gratitude and appreciation for help she in

I

received

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me

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Dr.Saundra

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Thank

You!

For my mother, in her company time sees no boundary.

Anything is achievable. Thank you for being

you.

For others that I have received help from, thank you all.

To Finding Tempo Giusto

FINDING TEMPO GUISTO|

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