Japan Study Abroad 2024

Japan Collection 24

Nataly Hakopian

Irma Ramirez, Ernesto Perez

ENV Japan Program Summer 2024

LA4990_S24

ABOUT STUDIO

The School of Environmental Design Japan studio is an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to learn about collaborative work that leads to making of human-centered environments. The program takes place Japan and exposes students to non-western canons of cultural, professional, and academic traditions that will enrich the program by emphasizing a course of study dedicated to students becoming socially responsible professionals by emerging themselves in a foreign context.

This Special Topic will explore, discuss, and record the broad landscape of the ENV Interdisciplinary Study Abroad Program in Japan. Through, reading, discussion, field trips, cultural experiences, drawing and photography this course will expose students to the types, forms and experience of numerous major cities across Japan.

Contents

Tokyo Page 5

Restroom Hunt Page 15

Kyoto Page 25

Hiroshima Page 35

Naoshima Page 43

Teshima Page 53

Tokyo

Introduction

Amid Tokyo’s fast-paced life and societal pressures, Meiji Jingu offers a serene escape. This man-made forest beautifully blends landscape with tradition, fostering spiritual wellness and healing. You will find yourself wandering through pathways in the garden which allow a sense of escape and wandering. Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu provides a powerful testament to nature and tradition. Omotesando Avenue in Tokyo is a dense boulevard is a mix of tradition and modernity. It showcasing world-renowned architecture. The streets are filled with cars, bikers, and pedestrians. Every building tells a story; some merging old and new and others creating a new narrative. As you venture away from the main street, the connected streets become smaller and less crowded, offering a quiet escape. Rooftop gardens and lounge areas provide an oasis above the city’s chaos, replicating the natural world in social gathering spaces.

Restroom Hunt

Introduction

What else is there to do on a rainy night in Tokyo? Probably much more than exploring the public restrooms but it was a fun adventure that forces you to go in corners of Tokyo you might not find yourself in. I noticed that a lot of these sites are tucked away or go unnoticed.

Kyoto

Introduction

Strolling through Kyoto to get to our next site I was told that the stroll was the destination. The sound of water led us down a path as well as a path in my mind. How does water carry so much peace and tranquillity? We visited many Temples that took my breathe away. Nanzen-ji Temple was so peaceful. It was also nice changing out of my New Balances to their provided slippers. Every Temple we have entered has required removing shoes and it’s been really nice feeling every step. The Suirokaku Aqueduct is located in the Nanzen-ji Temple complex. It was constructed during the Meiji period, between 1885 and 1890, as part of the Lake Biwa Canal project. “Lake Biwa Canal” is a man-made canal with the purpose of transporting water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, to support both the growing urban population and industries during Japan’s rapid modernization.

Hiroshima

Introduction

Hiroshima was such a unique and heavy experience. Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was such an educational space. It displayed material, letters, paintings, photographs and testemonies from people that were directly impacted. There was also a structure that was still standing at the end of the walk from the Museum to the river. It was an intense experience that gets one to deeply think. The walk through the peace park was a time to reflect.

Naoshima

Introduction

What an amazing island of art and architecture. It was a place to explore in a much slower pace than what we have seen. Tadao Ando is the face of this island. He transformed it into a place where people can come and see all kinda of art. The ChiChu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum, and Teshima Museum where the three of his work. The art in the architecture definitely had a dialogue with eachother and everything felt very intentional. Some spaces felt like a seamless connection of indoor and outdoor. At one point you couldnt even tell you were walking underground. The use of concrete was done so beautifully that the spaces felt welcoming, rather than cold.

Teshima

Introduction

The museum that we visited on Teshima was one of the most impactful. I remember a discussion we had about the museum before going and everyone was curious what kind of art it displayed. I didn’t understand it before but now I do. The art being displayed was up to your interpretation. The architecture that held the art was a sculpture on its own. The size of the space depended on the perspective of one that entered the space. It was beautiful and transformative on how I think of a space and how it can be used.