JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE

Residential

Japan has a long history of being prone to earthquakes. Japan is an area of high seismicity because of its location near three major tectonic plate boundaries and is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Every year, over 150 earthquakes take place in Japan, and the geographic location of the country is an important factor of this natural phenomenon.

With so many earthquakes taking place on this island nation, Japan has embraced earthquakes as a natural part of their daily life. Japan has taken several counter measures to make rescue and evacuation missions more efficient and effective.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Storytelling Japan’s geography and history of earthquakes

Site Study

Museum Goals

Traditional architectural and industrial techniques to counter disaster

Architecture and technology to help evacuation of victims and execution of rescue missions during earthquakes

The Jishinha Museum is the place to exchange ideas and share the knowledge that has been gained about Japanese earthquakes.

This exhibition will educate attendees in the following ways:

1. The geography and history of Japan’s earthquakes

2. History of Japan’s efforts to protect themselves from earthquakes

3. The evacuation of victims and execution of rescue missions during earthquakes

4. Technological, industrial, and architectural knowledge that helps protect the Japanese population and their properties from the destruction caused by earthquakes

CONCEPT STATEMENT:

Seismic waves are natural waves of energy that result in the existing environment being left in destructive fragments. The Japanese have gracefully found ways to survive through earthquakes allowing what was destroyed to be born again.

Narrative

Due to the vulnerable nature of Japan regarding earthquakes, the Japanese are able to predict and avoid disasters by reflecting nature. The seismic wave plays an important role in the most effective prediction of earthquakes, allowing people to save themselves and evacuate quickly. It serves as a sign to remind people that nature should not creep up upon us, there must always be foresight.

Seismic Wave Parti

The ground floor plan is based on the surface waves as the epicenter of Japan map creates earthquake that spreads throughout of the whole exhibition. As for the upper floor plan, body waves create pockets of exhibition spaces that show the aftermath of earthquakes in Japan. And in reverse, the reflected ceiling plan on ground floor will be based on body waves, as for the one on upper floor will be reflected on surface waves to create a whole cohesive seismic wave on each floor.

UPPER FLOOR BUBBLE DIAGRAM - SURFACE WAVES

Moodboard

Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all.

Upper Floor Plan

Copper

Accent

Shaw Stipple Carpet Tile

Interlam Pasadena Maple Wall Panel

Woody Wave Bench

Knoll Sandstone Fabric

Ground Floor Plan

Accoustic Wall Panel

Brushed Bronze Wallcovering

Eames Kid’s Area Chair

Decca Wood Flooring

Marble

Countertop

Appropriately built at kid’s height, The totem displays games which stimulate earthquake scenarios and solutions to tackle the disaster

The building structure has plenty of windows which provides much of natural lights into museum. On the ground floor, the glass window wall give pedestrian indoor peek into exhibition. As for the upper floor, the traditional exhibition area has the window covered in order to create a dramatic effect of entering the current era exhibition, with bright lit natural light coming in, welcoming to a new world.