tank applies traditional japanese art techniques in reformation

tank applies traditional japanese art techniques into studio reformation
image © kenta hasegawa

architecture in japan: located near the kiyomizu temple and with impressive views of the five sacred mountains of kyoto, tokyo-based studio tank has transformed a typical japanese condominium into a guesthouse where artists and creators can pursue their creative activities and enjoy living as well. to do so, the aim was to integrate local traditional techniques not commonly used in construction into the architecture.

image © kenta hasegawa

the japanese have traditionally repaired broken ceramics by gluing fragments together with a lacquer that gilds the seams with gold power to enjoy the beauty of imperfections; this technique is called ‘kintsugi’, meaning literally ‘to join with gold’. in construction, traditional plaster mortar usually cracks when it sets. this breakage is usually deemed as inferior work and current improved mortar seldom cracks. tank noticed how these cracks resembled ceramics and decided to use the ‘kintsugi’ technique in the living rooms to join them. to do so, they applied gold-colored epoxy, transforming the imperfections into a subject of beauty.

image © kenta hasegawa

another traditional japanese technique called ‘urushi-nuri’ was used in the bathroom and it is one that calls for lacquer resin impregnated jute fabric reinforcement of the wooden base, forming a rigid composite structure beneath the polished upper coat. this composite technique is similar to FRP (fiber reinforced plastic) layering, so they chose it using translucent resin for the washroom to mimic the method. the resin is then polished to reveal the underlying glass-fiber layers over the wooden base, resulting in a translucent, yet complex, visual texture while achieving material strength and waterproofing needed for the location.

image © kenta hasegawa

the mirrored bathroom doors double as a changing room when opened. the highly polished metal surfaces reflect the room interior and surrounding scenery producing a kaleidoscopic effect. at a glance, each element may be simple, but as a whole each one serves an intuitive and creative atmosphere for the creative resident.

image © kenta hasegawa

project info:

project name: xchange apartments

architect: tank (naritake fukumoto)

construction: loöwe, tank

photo: kenta hasegawa

date: 2016, 07

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom

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