After successful completion of the course, students are able to understand the basic design principles of Japanese architecture using the example of the Japanese teahouse and to implement them in a contemporary form.

Background:

The year 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the Vienna World's Fair (1873), in which Japan participated for the first time after its self-imposed isolation of over 250 years (sakoku: 1603-1868). The art objects and architectural models on display made a lasting impression on the public and led to a wave of "Japonism" in Europe, which still lives on to this day.

Following in the footsteps of these cultural interactions, the project "Learning from the Japanese Teahouse" is dedicated to a special architectural type - the Japanese teahouse (chashitsu), which has been considered an icon of Japanese architecture for hundreds of years. On the one hand, numerous examples are still being created today strictly according to the historical canon, while many Japanese architects have dedicated themselves to the - sometimes radical - modern reinterpretation of the building type.

In this context, we will address the question of the basic design principles according to which a teahouse is conceived and how these concepts can be translated into a contemporary architectural language and made usable for today's architectural practice. In the spirit of intercultural exchange, parallels will also be drawn with Adolf Loos' understanding of architecture, which was demonstrably influenced by Japanese architecture.

Building site:

The spatial setting is the Japanese garden in Schönbrunn Palace Park, the historical part of which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. It was created in 1913 by gardeners of the palace park after a visit to a garden exhibition in London and was supplemented in 1998/99 by a dry garden (Karesansui) and a tea garden (Roji). Due to the requirements of the Federal Monuments Office (Bundesdenkmalamt), it was not allowed to erect a tea house in the listed palace park, so only a platform the size of a tea house was designed (4.5 tatami mats), which can be used for tea ceremonies.

Due to the two anniversaries, a temporary installation has now been approved in the area of this platform, which should present the historical connections between Austria and Japan and promote a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. The installation will be realized in the framework of this course.

During the design course different viewpoints, which are important for the understanding of a Japanese teahouse will be presented and evaluated. 

This will include lectures on the historical background, the connection between teahouse and tea ceremony, its basic architectural elements, the concepts of "atmosphere"and "immersion" as well as contemporary examples and the influence of Japanese design on Western architecture (e.g. Adolf Loos). Furthermore, we will visit the building site and experience a tea ceremony, in order to better understand the purpose of a teahouse. 

Based on this input and their own experience, the students should develop a contemporary interpretation of a teahouse by using mood-boards, sketches, physical and/or VR-models. 

Special attention should be paid to the construction and details to enable a structural realisation on a scale of 1:1.

One of the designs will be implemented jointly in the framework of the supplementary course "Entwerfen Integrative Weiterbearbeitung "Japanese Teahouse"" (5 ECTS) and exhibited at the Japanese Garden in Schönbrunn during the summer months.

Application with portfolio and letter of motivation (by download link!) until 24/02/2023 to: iris.mach@tuwien.ac.at 

Appointments and corrections generally take place on Thursday afternoons.

Tentative Schedule:

02/03 Introduction (mandatory attendance)

29/03 Excursion Schönbrunn (mandatory attendance)

16/03 Tea ceremony (mandatory attendance)

23/03 Consultation

30/03 Concept presentation (mandatory attendance)

Easter Holidays

20/04 Consultation structural concept

27/04 Design presentation & jury (mandatory attendance)

04/05 Working drawings

11/05 Working drawings

18/05 National holiday

May / June: Building process (Course 057.036 / 5 ECTS)

01/07 Opening at Schönbrunn

Based on the basic principles of a Japanese teahouse, the students should develop an original design for a contemporary teahouse for the Japanese garden in Schönbrunn, using moodboards, sketches, physical and/or VR models. The design has to pay special attention to construction, material and details in order to enable a structural realisation on a scale of 1:1.

Students should have good previous knowledge of 3D design and construction, as well as an interest and skills in craftsmanship.