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Japanese have been known to have a special notion toward the aestheticism which deals with human experiences. They are ingenious about finding subtle beauty within every little thing which exists in nature and apply that to their architecture. What are the secrets behind all this? This thesis focuses on the research of Japanese aesthetic principles to find out the way for application in the architecture in the United States. / Department of Architecture

This thesis examines the concepts of history and tradition in modern Japan, with an emphasis on the writings of Sei'ichi Shirai (1905--1983). Although Shirai has been considered as one of the most important architects of 20th century Japan, he has also been treated as an obscure figure, no doubt partly because of the enigmatic quality of his writings. A major element that contributed to his obscure status and set him apart from his contemporaries was his understanding of history and tradition. / The introductory essay examines the concept of tradition prevalent around Shirai's time: how it was constructed by an a posteriori writing of history and in what ways this is complicated by Shirai's writings. The second portion of the thesis is an annotated translation of two of Shirai's texts demonstrating his attempts to disclose the a priori principles inherent in the unfolding of tradition through history.

Cette recherche entend aborder la question de l’authenticité à travers les pratiques de restauration liées au patrimoine architectural au Japon avec pour principal objet d’étude, des bâtiments traditionnels en bois en cours de restauration. Une des particularités des techniques relatives à la transmission de l’architecture au Japon est certainement le démontage périodique des édifices. Cette impermanence constructive tire ses origines de conditions climatiques difficiles, de spécificités liées à l’architecture en bois, ou encore de pratiques religieuses ancestrales, comme la reconstruction périodique de certains sanctuaires shintō. Dans la notion de « reconstruction », il y a l’idée de bâtir « à nouveau » ce qui a été détruit, de rétablir, de reproduire, de redonner une forme primitive à une structure ou à un édifice à partir d’éléments fragmentaires (vestiges, sources épigraphiques, etc.). Cela suppose la mise en présence d’un objet nouveau – à la matérialité inédite – avec l’idée de refaire « une fois encore » quelque chose qui a, jadis, eu une existence. Cette définition nous invite à considérer la possible coexistence de différentes pratiques et différents niveaux de reconstruction. La « reconstruction - restitution » est souvent invoquée pour retrouver des savoir-faire manquants. Pour de nombreux spécialistes, la pratique de la restauration par désassemblage (et, par la suite, de la reconstruction) agirait comme une synthèse de techniques et de théories apparentées à l’architecture traditionnelle. L’objectif de cette recherche est d’étudier différents cas de bâtiments reconstruits et les pratiques qui les animent. / This research addresses the issue of authenticity through restoration practices on Japanese architectural heritage and focuses mainly on traditional wooden buildings under restoration. One of the particularities of architectural practice in Japan is certainly the periodic dismantling of old buildings. The origins of this traditional practice stems from harsh climatic conditions, specificities related to wooden architecture, or ancient religious practices including the periodic reconstruction of some Shinto shrines. This “non-permanence” of buildings allows the transmission of forms and techniques through ages and time. With the concept of “reconstruction” comes the idea of building “once again” what was destroyed, as well as restoring, reproducing or restoring a primitive form, a structure or a building from fragmentary elements (vestiges, epigraphic sources, etc.). This presupposes the creation of a completely new object – with unprecedented materiality – that is triggered by the idea of making "once again" something that already existed. This definition of “reconstructing” invites us to consider a possible coexistence of different types of practices and standards of reconstruction. The act of “reconstruction - restitution” is often invoked to retrieve a missing “savoir-faire” (technical know-how). For many specialists, the practice of restoration by disassembling (prior to reconstructing) constitutes (or involves) the synthesis of techniques and theories related to traditional architecture. The aim of this research work is thus to study different cases of building reconstruction and type of practices that drive them.

This study is concerned with describing the changing concepts of space utilization in Japanese house design and the cultural forces producing the changes. Sources of information include literature spanning approximately one hundred years, a Japanese student of interior design, and-the Japanese Trade Commission in Dallas, Texas. A description of concepts of space design that were very stable for centuries in the Japanese house. The changes in architecture following World War II, and a contemporary house design by a noted Japanese architect are related to concurrent religious, philosophical, and economic forces. The influence of western culture upon Japanese life-style and design solutions to space problems is either indicated or inferred.

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This thesis analyzes the problems and contradictions inherent in modernity's levelling of the fabricative and political realms. Seeking a broader perspective on the origins of aesthetic culture and aestheticized politics, it examines the relation of architecture to technology, culture, and politics. The thesis examines the consequences of the Enlightenment and "Radical Enlightenment" (understanding the rise of the modern nation-state as a direct consequence of the 18th century's yoking of history and nature) from the perspective of Japan and its encounter with modernity. Japan as a modern nation-state, neither part of the European Enlightenment nor colonized by its instruments, was able to initiate a unique discourse around the question of history and the concomitant issues of identity and nihilism. / The thesis tracks the discourse through architecture as the terms shift and become more and more indistinguishable from the Western manifestations from which the Japanese architects wished to claim distinction. / The discussion on difference and possibility---cultural identity and the creative project---as fundamental questions for a contemporary practice of architecture is undertaken through an analysis of the polar positions of Tange Kenzo and Shirai Sei'ichi.