Green Architecture in Japan: Tradition, Culture & Design

Defining Green Architecture

Man has been building structures since shortly after emerging from caves and exploring areas beyond his immediate vicinity. Many animals build structures — birds and beavers among them — and many of these structures are functional, serving only to offer protection from predators and the elements. So it was with the first structures built by humans: they were made from locally available materials, with emphasis on functionality and little, if any, thought given to artistic form.

As society developed, so did technology. Advances in technology gave people more time for pursuits unrelated to survival, and humans began to express their emotions through art. Architectural design encompasses more than simply piecing together I-beams and concrete — it involves building for humankind. Nowhere is this idea more pronounced than in Japan.

In Eastern cultures there is a strong emphasis on the interconnectivity between everything in the universe. The belief is that all things, both ethereal and concrete, are interdependent in a complex symbiosis that only the gods can fully understand. This harmony is reflected in every social aspect of life, including architecture. Many now refer to this concept as green architecture, which simply means building in a way that is in harmony with nature, as opposed to being superimposed upon it. This paper demonstrates through example how green architecture in Japan is a direct result of traditional elements found in Japanese religion and culture.

The Ushida-Findlay design studio is known for its work in architecture as a reflection of regional landscape elements and the influences of habitat, nature, and technology on human psychology. This studio takes the idea of green architecture to the next level. Many consider themselves "green architects" simply because they incorporate a few elements of energy conservation and curved lines. Many architects try to "tame nature." The Ushida-Findlay studio takes the opposite approach and tries to tame technology instead, giving new definition to the term green architecture.

As in Japanese gardening, Japanese architecture seeks to create a miniature version of the nature surrounding it. A building in the city follows this same principle, representing a miniature version of the city around it. Like a city, each house contains personal, intimate spaces — such as the bedroom, where the occupant can envelop themselves in a protective cocoon free from the outside world — as well as public spaces where the larger ideals of society are captured. Modern designers tend to ignore these principles and view a building or wall simply as an interruption to the smooth flow of traffic.

In America, cities grew in sections, with thought given only to the particular section and its immediate planned use. Anyone who has tried to navigate the disjointed grid sections of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania can attest to this. The same principle was also reflected in building styles: structures were designed from the outside in, rather than from the inside out in consideration of the surrounding area. According to Wines, giving consideration to the microcosm of the building grants occupants more control to design their working and living environments to meet their particular needs.

The highlight of the Ushida-Findlay design studio's work encapsulates the ideals they seek to convey. In 1994 they built the "Soft and Hairy" (also called "Warm and Fuzzy") house for a young couple in Tsukuba City near Tokyo. This house is quite unconventional in design and causes one to pause and reflect. Gone are the harsh wall corners and square rooms. Instead, one finds a world of curves that resemble biology more than geometry. "Organic" is perhaps the best description available. The floor plan of the "Soft and Fuzzy" house illustrates this most clearly, with shapes that recall conch shells, ocean waves, and even a human fetus in the womb — reminding us of the protection of the mother. To call this design a diversion from the concepts of modern Western architectural design would be an understatement.

Not only does this design appeal to the human psyche in a primal way, it also features elements that reflect environmental responsibility, including an extensive roof garden that provides a better quality of life for the occupants and helps maintain interior temperature. The "Soft and Hairy" house is a radical example of the green architecture concept.

Asia has not traditionally been known for placing environmental concerns first when it comes to functional space. Attention to harmony with the environment was historically reserved for temples and shrines; in the city, function and efficiency were the primary concerns. Recently, however, the public has been placing pressure on Japanese architects to design buildings that are in harmony with nature, or at the very least demonstrate some concern for the environment. Ben Nakamura was a pioneer in this area, designing a complex that featured effective insulation, non-toxic materials, and a design that blended with the local site and climate. Nakamura pioneered the concept that green architecture and a "people-friendly" building meant more than placing more plants in the lobby. He integrated the idea of building a more humanly appealing structure into the entire building design, and his work remains state of the art in terms of environmental building materials and design.

At the forefront of this green movement in Japan is the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI). This institute created its own eco-village — the country's most extensive green housing project — a 110-flat complex in the Tokyo suburb of Matsudo, built for institute employees. The apartments come complete with a machine that makes ice during the night, when electricity is cheapest, to help cool the apartments during the day. Heat generated by air compressors is recycled to supply hot water. Kitchen waste is composted to feed the communal garden and the grass-covered roof that acts as insulation. Rainwater is collected into landscaped ponds in a courtyard. Lessening the impact on the environment is the main objective of this building concept, and the CRIEPI project is the most complete design of its type to date.

This design emphasizes that green architecture encompasses not only the look and outward appearance of a building, but also its mechanical systems. Those systems must lessen the building's impact on the environment without detracting from its aesthetics. The concept of green architecture allows more options than conventional architectural design. Gone are the days of concealing infrastructure behind plywood; those same pipes and systems can become important design elements that contribute to, rather than detract from, the building's overall character.

Green architecture encompasses all design elements — from the aesthetics of the building to integrating mechanical systems into the overall feel of the space. It means considering the environmental impact of a building and taking measures to minimize that impact. It means designing in harmony with nature, not in spite of it. Buildings are for human inhabitants, and it is those inhabitants who should be the primary concern for architectural designers.

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