The Architecture Experience – Japan takes participants on a 14-day journey across the 3 cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, where they get to witness the country’s architectural diversity and experience the blend of tradition and modernity in its buildings and public spaces. Participants will explore projects which showcase sustainable practices through different perspectives and interpretations. Participants will also get to study agencies and their holistic approach toward the Integration of Traditional Methodology in Contemporary Architecture and planning models used to create a sustainable environment with a high quality of life.
Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower. Photo by Koji Horiuchi
Image on top – Chureito Pagoda (忠霊塔, Chūreitō) in Yamanashi
14
days
20
participants
3
Cities
What is The Architecture Experience - Japan?
The best approach to growing as an architect is to learn from experiencing and observing. The Architecture Experience aims to do just that – to take an existing project proposal and enhance its core architectural values by incorporating the ideals of traditional and modern architecture and building technologies. The Experience will be a fourteen-day long curated educational tour for up to twenty participants, across Japan.
These visits will focus on observing and learning about the importance of site sensitivity, different architectural techniques – active and passive, the importance of material selection and other aspects vital to sustainability. The visits will foster a deep understanding of building with an inclination to local designs and techniques while working on an existing project will illustrate the immediate applications and impacts of traditional ideals on contemporary architecture.
Itinerary
In the 14 days, participants will get to work on their own Capstone project in sync with their subjects in college or work. These projects will be relevant for an urban landscape, with inspiration taken from places visited during this Experience.
A traditional Washitsu 和室, also called a Tatami room
Osaka
Arrival in Osaka, Japan.
Orientation on the structure of the tour visits and project. Finalisation of teams and the participants’ individual roles and responsibilities within the team will be defined.
Topics of discussion: Use of raw material and design with natural elements.
Places to visit: Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum, Osaka Castle (outside visit) and Lake.
Cultural visit: Dotonbori, Shinsekai, Namba area.
Topics of discussion: Traditional construction methodology vs contemporary innovative techniques
Places to visit: The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Umeda Sky Building (Kuchu-Tien Observatory).
Cultural visit: Umeda Station, Hankyu Centre.
Kyoto
Topics of discussion: Relationship of buildings with natural surroundings, Functional living spaces.
Places to visit: Fushima Inari Taisha, Nanzen-ji Suirokaku, Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa.
Cultural visit: Ninenzaka & Kiyomizu-dera area.
Topics of discussion: Zen gardens – creating calm in the chaos.
Places to visit: Kinkaku-ji, Ryōan-ji (Rock Garden), Ninna-ji (outside visit).
Cultural visit: Nishiki Market, Kawaramachi-dori Street.
Topics of discussion: Preservation of historically important architecture.
Places to visit: Kyoto International Conference Centre, KYOCERA Museum of Art, Kyoto City Hall.
Tokyo
Evening Arrival in Tokyo.
Project discussion.
Topics of discussion: Earthquake-resistant building technology.
Places to visit: Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower (outside visit), Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building observation deck, Meguro Sky Garden.
Cultural visit: Shibuya Crossing and neighbourhood walk, Hachiko Statue.
Topics of discussion: High-Density Environments.
Places to visit: National Art Center, Azabudai Hills, Tokyo Tower (outside visit), Kaminarimon, Sensō-ji.
Cultural visit: Nakamise-dori Street, Skytree view, Asakusa market visit, Akihabara market visit.
Topics of discussion: Influence of Contemporary architecture.
Places to visit: Tokyo International Forum, Studio Visit, Nobori Building.
Cultural visit: Ginza, Shinjuku and Harajuku area.
Free Day
Culmination of the tour, brief on submission of Capstone project
Departure to India or home country.
Culmination of the tour, brief on submission of Capstone project.
Departure to India or home country.
Days 4, 8, and 13 are free days for the participants to explore the cities.
Cultural visits are not part of the itinerary but are recommended areas to shop and explore the city.
Upcoming batches
How Much Does It Cost?
INR 234,000 / $3,000
The price includes flights ex-New Delhi / Mumbai, India (taxes extra). The price without flights is $2,600. Please contact us if you are a student, for discounted pricing.
What does the cost include?
Domain Expert Guidance
Course Material
flights
hotels
local & airport transfers
breakfast & dinner
visas
entry fees
Our Partners
People
Rachita Bhonsle
MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology
Curator & Tour leader - The Architecture Experience
Testimonials
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)
Sustainable Development Goals
All our Experiences are aimed at implementing and solving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN. Goal no. 17 ‘Partnerships for the Goals’ is key to our Experiences, since we work with a global team of experts to be able to add value to the learning of the participants. The Architecture Experience Japan focuses on 3 of the Goals primarily.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
– Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
– By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing
– By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement
– By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
– By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
– Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
FAQs
– Students and fresh graduates from architecture colleges and related fields
– Young professionals from architecture, design and related fields who want to explore Integration of Traditional Methodology in Contemporary Architecture in Japan.
Young architects could benefit exponentially from observing the significance of traditional architecture and how that has translated into contemporary ideologies that can be applied in an urban context. Architects can to draw inspiration from Japanese approaches to materiality and craftsmanship. Architects working in urban contexts can also learn from Japanese approaches to balancing density, liveability, and sustainability.
Yes! This Experience will take up to 20 participants. These participants will be split into smaller teams to execute projects which are designed to give added value to their ongoing projects (school or live).
The Architecture Experience is designed with the intent of enhancing architectural understanding. To this end, a short capstone project is included as part of the experience. The idea of the project is to refine an existing project with the ideologies of integrating traditional methodology in contemporary architecture.
This Experience will focus on observing and learning about different architectural techniques – active and passive, old and new, importance of material selection and other aspects vital to sustainable architecture, which are important tenets of contemporary and new age architecture, be it urban or non urban.
Yes! From a logistics point of view, this price includes the cost of accommodation, flights, visas, breakfast and dinner, local and airport transfers, and entry fees where applicable.
“
A building can only be understood by moving around and through it, and by experiencing the modulation, and feel the spaces one moves through - from outside into verandah, then rooms, passages, courtyards. Architecture cannot be totally explained but must be experienced."
Geoffrey Bawa
Contact Us
Tokyo International Forum. Photo by Rafael Viñoly Architects
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