Experiencing Architecture – Japan

ASSOC. PROF TEOH CHEE KEONG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last March, a group consisting of 15 architecture students and 4 lecturers embarked on a 5 days 4 nights architecture experiencing journey to Tokyo, Japan. The aim of this course is to broaden students’ knowledge as well as to promote critical independent thinking of the events, people and movements that have shaped the history of the city.

 

This short-term experiencing trip immersed students in the culture, history, urban, landscape and architectural environment of Tokyo. Like those world-class cities, Tokyo’s architecture is overwhelmingly modern due to its destruction during the 20th Century; it also has a vast range of architectural styles from Meiji Period (1868-1912) to contemporary icons.
 

The program included day trips to a series of architectural works by world-renowned classical architects from Kenzō Tange, Kunio Maekawa to contemporary designers such as Kisho Kurokawa, Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Toyo Ito who make Tokyo the ideal setting for this hands-on international and architectural learning experience.

Before the trip, students were motivated to conduct research, navigate the Internet for source information on the particular places and buildings and prepare a handbook. During the trip, the students carried at all times a sketchbook, camera, paper measuring tape, and document interesting details through measure and material understanding. To conclude the study, students were asked to compose a travelogue based upon their individual sketches, documentation, literature reviews and knowledge obtained from the trip.