DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Robyn Chee >

Abstract

This semester, we focused on a specific site of a particular city. Being assigned the city of Tokyo, I wanted to bring out its modern aspects whilst still keeping the traditional culture of Japan. My allocated site consisted of a popular tourist attraction, the Nakamise Dori Gate and I decided to use this as an advantage to connect the non-Japanese people with the traditional activity of hosted tea ceremonies. The bottom level of my building consists of souvenir shops and the main entrance to the tea ceremony areas on the 2nd floor. This entrance marks the beginning of the journey one will take through this building. Once inside, the people can choose to either go up a semi-exposed ramp that will lead those upstairs or to just go straight through into an open roofed garden allocated on the ground floor. As one moves upwards through the ramp, their view is blocked by a faÁade until they step out and onto the earth themed garden on the second level. This builds up an element of surprise and a more memorable experience. This path leads them to the first tea house. With a series of glass facades; this tea house is an exposed structure that broadens oneís view on the busy city that surrounds them. After experiencing their first destination, the people can continue their journey and into the second tea house, a water themed one in contrast to the first. This house is less exposed and the walls are solid, letting in only slits of light into the structure. This creates a play of light and a more ambience and mysterious atmosphere. Their journey ends as they head down the second main ramp and onto the ground floor again, passing a row of souvenir shops that allows them to take home a memorable item that will remind them of this great experience. The journey through this building will be a relaxing one as nature and contemporary aspects collide with each other.