Japan architectural timeline and some examples of it

1. JapanArchitecture InA
NuttShell
Done By : Saad Dahleh / Saif Jbbori

2. Japan

3. Japan
 is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean.
 Geography:
 The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate, but
varies greatly from north to south. Japan's geographical
features divide it into six principal climatic zones:
 Hokkaido / Sea of Japan / Central Highland / Seto Inland Sea
/ Pacific Ocean / Ryūkyū Islands.
 Economy:
 Growth was slow but steady, most of japan early imports
were rice and spices.That was until the technological
spread it started building vehicles as its main resource then
japans economy hit rock bottom after the tragic Hiroshima
and Nagzaki incident but it didn’t stop it at that it.As of
2012, Japan is the third largest national economy in the
world.

4.  Demography:
 Japan's population is estimated at around 127.1 million. Japanese
society is linguistically and culturally homogeneous, composed of
98.5% ethnic Japanese, with small populations of foreign workers.
 Religion:
 Japan enjoys full religious freedom based on Article 20 of its
Constitution. Upper estimates suggest that 84–96 % of the
Japanese population follow Buddhism or Shinto.
 Culture:
 Japanese culture has evolved greatly from its origins.
Contemporary culture combines influences from Asia, Europe and
NorthAmerica. But the Japanese people still cling to their origins.
Japan

5. Japan
Traditional
Architecture
Much in the traditional architecture
of Japan is not native, but was
imported from China and other
Asian cultures over the centuries.
Japanese traditional architecture
and its history are as a consequence
dominated by Chinese and Asian
techniques, on one side, and by
Japanese original variations on
those themes on the other.
Nijō Castle in Kyoto

6. Japans Historic
Time line

7. Prehistoric period
The prehistoric period includes the Jōmon,Yayoi and Kofun periods.

8. 1. The Jōmon: the population was primarily hunter-gatherer with
some primitive agriculture skills and their behavior was
predominantly determined by changes in climatic conditions and
other natural stimulants. Early dwellings were pit houses
consisting of shallow pits with tamped earth floors and grass roofs
designed to collect rainwater with the aid of storage jars.
2. theYayoi: the Japanese people began to interact with the Chinese
Han Dynasty, whose knowledge and technical skills began to
influence them.The Japanese began to build raised-floor
storehouses as granaries which were constructed
3. The Kofun: marked the appearance of many-chambered burial
mounds or tumuli

9. Asuka and Nara Period
The most significant contributor to architectural changes during the
Asuka period was the introduction of Buddhism and the Shinto wooden
shrines.

10. The following is a diagram illustrating the most important
elements of a Shinto shrine.
1. Torii - Shinto gate
2. Stone stairs
3. Sandō - the approach to the shrine
4. Chōzuya or temizuya - fountain to cleanse one's hands and
face
5. Tōrō - decorative stone lanterns
6. Kagura-den - building dedicated to Noh or the sacred kagura
dance
7. Shamusho - the shrine's administrative office
8. Ema - wooden plaques bearing prayers or wishes
9. Sessha/massha - small auxiliary shrines
10. Komainu - the so-called "lion dogs", guardians of the shrine
11. Haiden - oratory
12. Tamagaki - fence surrounding the honden
13. Honden - main hall, enshrining the kami.

11.  The roof is the most visually impressive component,
often constituting half the size of the whole
composition.
 The slightly curved eaves extend far beyond the walls,
covering verandas, and their weight must therefore be
supported by complex bracket systems called tokyō, in
the case of temples and shrines. Simpler solutions are
adopted in domestic structures.
 Inner space divisions are fluid, and room size can be
modified through the use of screens or movable paper
walls.
 The use of construction modules keeps proportions
between different parts of the edifice constant, where
every available space is heavily decorated
Hōryū-ji
Being shared by both sacred and profane
architecture, these features made it easy
converting a lay building into a temple or vice
versa.This happened for example at Hōryū-ji,
where a noblewoman's mansion was transformed
into a religious building.

12. Heian period
Although the layout of the city was similar to Nara's and inspired by Chinese
precedents, the palaces, temples and dwellings began to show examples of
local Japanese taste.

13. Phoenix Hall at
Kyoto
 Heavy materials like stone, mortar and clay were
abandoned as building elements, with simple
wooden walls, floors and partitions becoming
prevalent.
 Brick roofing tiles and a type of cypress called hinoki
were used for roofs.
 The increasing size of buildings in the capital led to
an architecture reliant on columns regularly spaced
in accordance with the ken, a traditional measure of
both size and proportion.
 It was sometime during this period that the hidden
roof, a uniquely Japanese solution to roof drainage
problems, was adopted.
it is composed of a true roof above
and a second roof beneath
permitting to have eaves of shallow
pitch. only from under the eaves and
is therefore called a "hidden roof"

14. Phoenix Hall at
Kyoto
 It consists of a main rectangular structure flanked by
two L-shaped wing corridors and a tail corridor, set at
the edge of a large artificial pond.
 The style was characterized by symmetrical buildings
placed as arms that defined an inner garden.This
garden then used borrowed scenery to seemingly blend
with the wider landscape.
 This garden then used borrowed scenery to seemingly
blend with the wider landscape throughThree principle:
 intending to create in the likeness of nature
 planning in accordance with the site topography
 capturing and presenting the ambiance

15. Kamakura and
Muromachi periods
The period began with the transfer of power in Japan, Although less
elaborate than during the Heian period, architecture in the Kamakura
period was informed by a simplicity due to its association with the
military order.

16. RyoanjiTemple
 In response to native requirements such as earthquake
resistance and shelter against heavy rainfall, the master
carpenters of this time responded with a unique type of
architecture,creating the Daibutsuyō and Zenshūyō
styles. Both monolithic structure to withstand the
natural environment.
 Although woven grass and straw tatami mats first began
to appear in the Kamakura period, they were often
thrown all over the floor. In the Muromachi period they
began to have a regular size and be closely fitted
together.
 In the garden, Zen principles replaced water with sand
or gravel to produce the dry garden (karesansui) like the
one at Ryōan-ji.

17. Kinkaku-ji
 The proximity of the shogunate to the imperial court led
to a rivalry in the upper levels of society which caused
tendencies toward luxurious goods and lifestyles.
 In an attempt to rein in the excess of the upper classes,
the Zen masters introduced the tea ceremony. In
architecture this promoted the design of chashitsu (tea
houses) to a modest size with simple detailing and
materials.The style informed residential architecture
with lighter, more intimate buildings relying on slender
rafters and pillars with sliding

18. Azuchi-Momoyama
period
Japan underwent a process of unification after a long period of civil
war. It was marked by the rule of Oda Nobunaga andToyotomi
Hideyoshi, men who built castles as symbols of their power

19. HimejiCastle
 led to rise of castle architecture in
Japan. By the time of the Azuchi-
Momoyama period each domain was
allowed to have one castle of its own.
 Typically it consisted of a central
tower surrounded by gardens and
fortified buildings.All of this was set
within massive stone walls and
surrounded by deep moats.The dark
interiors of castles were often
decorated by artists, the spaces were
separated up using sliding screens.

20. HimejiCastle

21. Edo period
TheTokugawa Shogunate took the city of Edo as their capital.They built an
imposing fortress around which buildings of the state administration and
residences were constructed.

22. Machiya
 The city grew around these buildings connected by a
network of roads and canals.
 Although machiya (townhouses) had been around since
the Heian period they began to be refined during the
Edo period.
 Machiya typically occupied deep, narrow plots abutting
the street (the width of the plot was usually indicative
of the wealth of the owner), often with a workshop or
shop on the ground floor.Tiles rather than thatch were
used on the roof and exposed timbers were often
plastered in an effort to protect the building against
fire.
 Machiya and storehouses from the later part of the
period are characterized by having a black coloration to
the external plaster walls.

23. Kamiyashik
 Ostentatious buildings that demonstrated the wealth
and power of the feudal lords were constructed, such as
the Kamiyashiki of MatsudairaTadamasa
 Edo suffered badly from devastating fires and the 1657
Great Fire of Meireki was a turning point in urban
design. Initially, as a method of reducing fire spread, the
government built stone embankments in at least two
locations along rivers in the city.
 Over time these were torn down and replaced with dōzō
storehouses that were used both as fire breaks and to
store goods unloaded from the canals.
 The clean lines of the civil architecture in Edo
influenced the sukiya style of residential architecture.

24. Meiji,Taisho, and early
Showa periods
Towards the end of theTokugawa Shogunate,Western influence in
architecture began to show in buildings associated with the military
and trade, especially naval and industrial facilities.

25. Kamiyashik
 Japan began a rapid process ofWesternization which
led to the need for new building types such as schools,
banks and hotels.
 Early Meiji Architecture was initially influenced by
colonial architecture
 ThomasWaters who designed the Osaka Mint in 1868, a
long, low building in brick and stone.
 InTokyo, after theTsukiji area burnt to the ground in
1872, the government designated the Ginza area as
model of modernization.
 One of the prime examples of early western
architecture was the Rokumeikan, a large two-story
building inTokyo,
Mint Rokumeikan
Former kaichi School Ginza

26. LateShowa period
After the war and under the influence of the Supreme Commander of
the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur, Japanese political and
religious life was reformed to produce a demilitarized and democratic
country.

27. PostWar
 Also in 1946, theWar Damage Rehabilitation Board put
forward ideas for the reconstruction of thirteen
Japanese cities.Architect KenzōTange submitted
proposals for Hiroshima and Maebashi.
 Le Corbusier was asked by the Japanese government to
design the National Museum ofWestern Art inTōkyō.
He was assisted by his three former students:
Maekawa, Sakakura andTakamasaYoshizaka.

28. YoyogiGym
 The 1964 Summer Olympics inTokyo saw a large boost
to new design.Venues were constructed and theYoyogi
NationalGymnasium, built between 1961 and 1964 by
KenzoTange, became a landmark structure famous for
its suspension roof design, recalling traditional
elements of Shinto shrines.
 The Olympic Games symbolized the re-emergence of
Japan after the destruction ofWorldWar II, reflecting
the new confidence in its architecture.
 In the late seventies and early eightiesTadaoAndo's
architecture and theoretical writings explored the idea
of Critical regionalism – the idea of promoting local or
national culture within architecture.

29. Early Heisei period
The Heisei period began with the collapse of the so-called "bubble
economy" that had previously boosted Japan's economy.

30. YoyogiGym
 Commissions for commercial works of architecture
virtually dried up and architects relied upon
government and prefectural organizations to provide
projects.
 Two former employees ofToyō Itō, Kazuyo Sejima and
Ryue Nishizawa formed a collaborative partnership in
1995 called SANAA.They are known for creating
lightweight, transparent spaces that expose the fluidity
and movement of their occupants.Which became and
apparent architecture movement trough this period.

31. Conclusion
 The Prehistoric period:
 Was primitive structure with functional purpose only.
 Wood and stone were used and sloped roofs.
 Burial mounds were imported form Chinese culture.
 Asuka and Nara Period:
 Religion Began to spread and so was its influence on the architecture
 The Shinto Shrine was taken as an architecture reference
 Evas first appearance that extend beyond the walls to cover the terraces.
 Heian period:
 The Japanese modified the current foreign references and techniques to
their own style and standards.
 City grow larger so rowed columns were defined by the Zen concept that
matches the building size and proportion.
 First approach with Borrowed landscape that blend into the natural context.
 Hidden roofs appeared and Evas extended more to solve rain issues.
 Kamakura and Muromachi periods:
 The period started with a power transfer in the nation which led more simple
functional structures related to military uses.
 Monolithic gates and shrines were built to withstand nature forces.
 Some iconic building and rituals were apparent to represent the wealth and
power of the new leader Such as the DryGarden and the tea house.

32. Conclusion
 Azuchi-Momoyama period:
 The process of unification led to standardizing buildings .
 Castles were a great factor in this period so in relevance their architecture
flourished greatly.
 Edo period:
 The city was in a good state after the civil war ended so residential projects
took a major leap such as the town house.
 Wood structure were replaced with stone walls after a fire that burnt the city.
 Decoration and details became less visible and facades became more simple.
 Meiji,Taisho, and early Showa periods:
 Western influence in architecture began to show in buildings associated with
the military and trade.
 The adoption of many foreign principles differed hugely form tradition.
 Late Showa period:
 After the world war ended japan went through huge major development
projects that were culturally relevant, that was when the concept regionalism
appeared.
 They got huge appraisal by the people as an approach to unit the nation.
 Early Heisei period:
 With the collapse of the so-called "bubble economy“ privet sector became less
demanding.
 Architecture settled down to government and prefectural organizations.
 Transparent and light architecture highlighted to reflect the nations ideals.