When people who are equally passionate about architecture come together then conversations convert into D-talks. The goal of this excursion was to “Observe and Absorb.”
So now the question arises of how one summarizes this mammoth experience within a few words. Well at first the adrenalin gushed in and slowly the realization that it was the start of a new beginning sank in.
There was a lot to take back home in terms of experiences. From arriving in Seoul until taking off from Osaka, there was never a moment when one felt the need to close their eyes for fear of missing out on something significant.
On one hand, Seoul could be described as modern, and fast-paced, it almost felt like the city never wanted to sleep. If one had to choose one project that described Seoul then it has got to be the Dongdaemun Design Plaza by Zaha Hadid. It is a perfect example of an urban insert. Just like the LED flowers the city came to life at night.
Japan was mature and humble. People were disciplined which could also be seen in their design. The country still has its roots entangled in its past and its values. The water temple may not make it to the 5 best architectural projects but it is still the best example of their design philosophy. Almost hidden from the outer world and still manages to mark an impression in terms of its simplicity and minimal design.
Apart from the architecture, the nontangible experience also adds to the journey, whether it could be the private ferry ride to the Naoshima Island or the bicycle ride. Riding by bus was less tiring but wandering through the streets on foot had its advantage.
There is a lot to learn from this experience, not just in terms of architecture but also the hard work, discipline, minimalism, and carrying forward the culture. Every individual has a role to play in the community. Similarly, almost every building that was discovered during this visit was designed with pure intentions, every line drawn had a purpose to be there. From the minutest details to the urban scale, everything was thought through. The way each grove was matched, to every cross-section of the street, a pedestrian was truly good there.
The five best moments from the trip have to be –
- Exploring the streets of Gangnam (Seoul) and Omotesando.
- Taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto.
- The private ferry ride to Naoshima Island.
- Cycling through the Island.
- Trying out Japanese street food on the last day.
Five best projects-
- Tama Art University Library
- Chichu Art Museum
- Fukutake Hall
- Leeum Samsung Museum
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza
And the only advice is that after witnessing each idea, people should talk about it more. This will raise the degree of comprehension and make it more habitable and remembered