*쿄토, 화이트 템플[ Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates Architecture ] White Temple

자연속에 경건한 공간을 심다.
절제된 자연미의 극치를 보여주는 일본 디자인 코드는
보는 이로 하여금 단순미를 떠나
그이상의 공간의 확장을 보여준다.
이런 젠 디자인 코드는 화이트 템플에서도
찾아 볼수 있다.
지극히 절제된 백색의 공간은
조상의 제를 올리기 위한 경건한 공간으로
현재의 나와 과거의 조상을
한 공간으로 모이게 만든다.
절제된 공간의 디자인은
사람과 시간 그리고 공간사이에
불필요하게 끼어드는 잡다한 요소를
배제하여 상호간의 공감을
원활하게 이룰 수 있도록 만든다.
이것은 사람이 시간으로 확장되고
다시 시간은 공간으로 확장되어 평소에
갖기 힘들었던 장소의 경건함을 새삼 느끼게
만들어 준다.

일본은 쿄토는 일본여행 코스에
머스트 투어코스중 하나이다.
그만큼 뛰어난 자연경관과
역사적으로 뛰어난 문화예술작품들이
잘 보존되어 있기 때문이다.
그중에서도 이곳 사이트는 천혜의 산과 호수가 만드는
그림같은 공원이 조성되었는데 이것은
 어느 디자이너 못지 않은
조화로움과 균형미를 보여준다.

이 자연과 절제된 백색의 템플은
그래서 그런지 더욱더 단아하게
우리 마음속에 들어 온다.

reviewed by sj

The site is northwest of Kyoto, about two hours by from the city center.  Here, in a region of scenic beauty that has been designated a natural park, the building sits by a broad lake, surrounded by mountains.  In Japan, it has been customary to enshrine and pray only for the ancestors of the male line of descent.Even today, our national system of family registration is oriented to the male line. The maternal line may only last 80 years, so one's maternal ancestors eventually fade from memory and never receive memorial services.

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This project was born from a recognition of the necessity to give thanks to one's maternal as well as paternal ancestors. The building is a sacred space for honoring maternal ancestors. Buddhist mortuary tablets inscribed with the names of these ancestors are kept here, so that a priest can hold mass for them. Inside the building, I set out to create a space that would envelope visitors in a womb-like atmosphere. In such a space, people might be reminded of their maternal blood relations and feel moved to thankfulness for the gift of life.

In the interior, therefore, I tried to orchestrate a floating sensation, as of the fetus in the fluid of the womb. Into this atmosphere, then, I introduced the movement of time. The light inside the building grows lighter or darker along with the changing brightness of the sky, so that the space seems to breathe. With each change in the intensity of the light, in other words, the space seems to swell or shrink. This swelling and shrinking, which is like the motion inside the womb, envelopes people in a soft way. The space's geometric position and size are fixed, of course, but the apparent size and position of the space changes dramatically along with these changes in the density of light. In this way, the interior space obtains connection with heaven, and this world joins the distant shore.

The most important light enters from behind the Buddhist image, obstructed by the altar---a white slab on which memorial tablets are placed. Transfigured by the object before it, the light becomes a halo of gold around the Buddhist image.　The divine presence is led in by the light and enshrined on the altar. Within radiant light, Buddha offers his compassionate gaze to visitors.
By day, the building stands forth as a volume, announcing its presence. By night, the building loses its form and subsides into darkness. Only its luminous interior stands forth.
The exterior and interior call and respond, while drawing the dynamic power of the landform into an  intensified presence, and giving fresh clarity to the beautiful mountains and water. In such a place,  we feel inspired to look beyond mundaneconcerns toward the world of spirit.  It is my hope that this space will help people enter a mood of dialogue with the souls of their ancestors, while reminding them of the preciousness of life.

from  architizer