Direct Radical Intuition: Toward An'architecture of Presence'through
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Direct Radical intuition: toward an ‘Architecture of Presence’ through Japanese ZEN Aesthetics A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati In the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Architecture in the Department of Architecture and Interior Design of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning 2011 by Charles Stephen Ellis Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design, Ball State University, 1983 Bachelor of Architecture, Ball State University, 1993 Committee Chair: James Postell, M.Arch Committee Member: Mikiko Hirayama, Ph.D. Direct Radical intuition: toward an ‘Architecture of Presence’ through Japanese ZEN Aesthetics Charles Stephen Ellis University of Cincinnati 2011 ABSTRACT: Currently the field of architectural thinking is steeped in Western discourse. The INTENTIONS of this research are to reveal how ideas of a Direct Radical intuition as an Eastern perspective can be infused into a field of Western dominated architectural thinking paradigm. This investigation into the landscape of architectural theory proposes that a study of Japanese Zen Buddhist aesthetics through ‘Direct Radical intuition’ will draw us toward an ‘Architecture of Presence.’ The formation of Japanese philosophical and religious thoughts will go through EXPLORATIONS culminating in two Buddhist principles; wabi (beautiful poverty) through chadō, or ‘the way of tea’ and ki (life force) through aikido , or ‘the way of harmony’ that were absorbed by Zen. Additionally, an examination of selected Western philosophical thought in Phenomenology and Post Modernism that aligns with or is contrary to aesthetics of Zen will be used to further clarify the ASSOCIATIONS to these principles. Finally, an analysis of selected projects by Japanese architect Tadaō Andō will further reveal how the proclivity toward aesthetic principles of Zen can illuminate CONNECTIONS for a visible architectural expression. A synthesis of this study will result in an assimilation of terms in alliance with ‘Direct Radical Intuition’ that has at its essence a ‘concrete pragmatism’ and ‘creative spontaneity’ disclosing a means of navigating through the architectural design and construction process. A comprehension of the architectural issues with transparency imbued with ‘Direct Radical intuition’ allows the designer to look within and beyond self and culturally imposed boundaries. This insight leads toward an ‘Architecture of Presence’ that is rooted in fundamental aspects of human activity and ascension toward a nourishment of the human spirit. This imminent enrichment facilitates the empowerment of IMPLICATIONS toward individual, cultural and social place in the larger context of a compassionate global integration. iii abstract copyright notice Copyright © Charles Stephen Ellis, 2011. All rights reserved. iv Acknowledgments This thesis is dedicated to my mother Setsuko Ellis and my late father Watson Ellis along with my sister Mary Ellis. I am also dedicating this thesis to my children Michael, Cristine, Erika and Taylor. Thank you for your constant support toward my endeavors. Thank you also to my friends and colleagues Miles Smith, Sam Hurt and Brent Hussong for our times spent sharing ideas. v acknowledgments table of contents abstract iii acknowledgements v 010101 intentions 1 01.1 scope- methods- limitations 6 01.2 a personal narrative 9 01.3 DRi: the east- west gap 24 020202 explorations 36 02.1 ZEN Buddhism: history and philosophy 36 02.2 chadō : the Way of Tea 45 02.3 wabi : beauty of poverty 73 02.4 budō : the Way of war 88 02.5 aikido : the Way of harmony 92 02.6 ki : life force 119 030303 associations 127 03.1 Tadaō Andō: biography 127 03.2 Tadaō Andō: project list- description 130 03.3 Tadaō Andō: philosophy 138 03.4 ZEN associations 150 03.5 Post Modern associations 168 040404 connections 181 04.1 DRi: terms 181 04.2 the Azuma residence 183 04.3 the Church on Water 188 04.4 the Water Temple 197 050505 implications 211 05.1 DRi: synthesis 211 05.2 DRi: potentials 218 05.3 DRi: point of departure 231 bibliography 234 glossary 239 vi table of contents 000101 intentions As we stand within this moment, take a deep breath and step back in time and space we begin to gather a perspective of our planet earth. (Fig. 01.1) We see that it is a sphere of continuous change and without boundaries. The borders are conceived by man’s conventions. As Carlos Castaneda 1 says, “The world is incomprehensible. We won’t ever understand it; we won’t ever unravel its secrets. Thus we must treat the world as it is: a sheer mystery.” 2 The terrain is constantly in flux and not fixed. The topography of mountains, rivers and oceans exist not asking to be a divisive tool to separate and be conquered. Our natural environment is diverse at its core essence and is beyond means to be controlled or categorized into a (Fig. 01.1) Our compassionate planet earth. homogenized concept. (Image source: http://icicp.blogspot.com, accessed on 03.25.2011) How do we as architects and designers gather the perceived complexity of issues that we confront? How do we bring the existing forces to a continuing resolution that blend, harmonize and stimulate without taming to be controlled based on our dualistic definitions of good and bad? Buckminster Fuller 3 says, “I live on Earth at present, and I don't know what I am. I know 1 Carlos Castañeda (1925–1998) was a Peruvian-born American anthropologist and author. Starting with The Teachings of Don Juan in 1968, Castaneda wrote a series of books that describe his alleged training in traditional Mesoamerican shamanism. 2 http://thinkexist.com/quotes/carlos_castaneda/4.html (accessed on 04.15.2011) 3 Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller (1895 – 1983) was an American engineer, author, designer, inventor, and futurist. Fuller published more than 30 books, inventing and popularizing terms such as "Spaceship Earth", 1 01 _intensions that I am not a category. I am not a thing -- a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process -- an integral function of the universe.” 4 Thus a noun defines the subject and demarcates while a verb is implied action that set in motion the energy and forces of our existence. The demarcations must be sought with insight of silent, intuitive wisdom to choose the appropriate verbs that activate and navigate this constant flux of energy and forces. What is the essence of human necessity? The complications arise with the layers of perceived needs, meanings and expectations that we place upon this question. How do we distill to the fundamental nature and understand the parameters for priorities that will evolve and act as a verb for the unfolding of our base needs for shelter? How do we as architects and designers see beyond our ego and sentimentality of representative symbols steeped within historical styles and cultural contraptions to find the appropriateness of this moment? This is the moment for the ‘making of architecture’ that integrates our life. “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.” 5 This quote by poet and mystic, William Blake 6 opens up the book, ‘The Doors of Perception’ by Aldous Huxley. 7 To look at the world more directly, is a crucible of Huxley’s mantra in this book. ephemeralization, and synergetics. He also developed numerous inventions, the best known of which is the geodesic dome. 4 http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/165737.Richard_Buckminster_Fuller (accessed on 04.15.2011) 5 Aldous Huxley. The Doors of Perception . (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1970), 6. 6 William Blake (1757–1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. He produced a diverse and symbolically rich work which embraced the imagination as "the body of God", or "Human existence itself". Considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, Blake is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. 7 Aldous Leonard Huxley (1894–1963) was an English writer. He spent the later part of his life in the United States, living in Los Angeles from 1937 until his death in 1963. Best known for his novels including ‘Brave New World’ and 2 01 _intensions This directness of perception must be done unconditionally beyond to encompass the ‘Mind at Large’. Mescalin was a vehicle that is used to be shaken out of the ruts of ordinary perception and that of animal obsession for survival and human obsession with words of symbolic conceptions. To embrace the silent realization of Nature in all of its wonder, he challenges us to use the man made systems of words more effectively. He promotes a human experience that is more open to Spirit and less so on the adherence to systematic reasoning thus the more unsystematic the better, to gain access into the inner and outer worlds into which we were born. To be enlightened is to be aware of the total reality of the vast ‘Otherness’ yet be grounded in our necessity of survival and use systematic reasoning as a tool as events unfold. Huxley ends his chronicle with a quote that summarizes his journey into the ‘Is-ness of being’. But the man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser but less cocksure, happier but less self satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable Mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend.