(3,872 × 2,592 pixels, file size: 2.32 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)
Image Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katsura1.jpg
Source of Origin : https://www.flickr.com/photos/10110263@N03/4617963104/in/album-72157623960381251/
Image Author : np & djjewell
Date : 25 November 2009
Title of Work : Katsura Imperial Villa (Katsura Rikyu)
Category : Japanese Traditional Architecture
Location : Kyoto (Along the Katsura River ; 8km distant from the main Kyoto Imperial Palace)
Site Dimension : 753,500 ft²
Date of Completion : Early 17th century (Edo Period)
Description :
The Katsura Imperial Villa is a group of buildings located in the southwest suburbs of Kyōto, Japan exemplifying the culmination of Japanese traditional architecture. The complex was originally built as a princely estate given to the younger brother of Emperor Go-Yōzei, Prince Toshihito, in the early 17th century (1590). The estate covers an area of about 16 acres along the bank of the Katsura River, which subsequently supplies the water for its ponds and streams. This structure emphasizes the intimate relationship and balance between the natural and built environments, generating a seamless experience for the visitor commenting on the essence of nature as ultimate beauty. These ideals eliminate structure as the obscurity of the surrounding natural environments, minimizing human intervention in nature, and creates a sense of architectural framing to view the surrounding estate through. An understanding of this structure as an example of honest architecture, where the structural materiality is exposed and utilized as an aid in developing visual aestheticism, is evident with the presence of natural woods and other possible locally sourced materials used for the exterior and interior walls, supporting beams, and roof assembly. The entry of the structure seems to require the visitor to cross a walking bridge over the water feature identified towards the left of the image which establishes a transformative experience of disengaging with everyday experiences and entering into a new realm of possible prayer or reconnecting with the natural environment.
Sources:
Image Source : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katsura1.jpg
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Katsura-Imperial-Villa
https://www.interactiongreen.com/katsura-imperial-villa-katsura-rikyu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsura_Imperial_Villa
