An architectural essay by Ryue Nishizawa, winner of the 2010 Pritzker Prize

‘Open space’ that breaks down the walls of space and time,
Incorporating modern sensibilities into architecture

The name ‘Ryuue Nishizawa’ is still somewhat unfamiliar in Korea.
However, he is a Japanese architect who has received worldwide attention for designing the New Museum, which was highly praised as “the building that restored the cultural identity of New York,” and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (located in Kanazawa, Japan), which is recognized as a representative example of modern architecture.
??Open Architecture as Spoken by Ryue Nishizawa?? is a collection of architectural essays that contains stories and photographs related to his work, as well as his philosophy and individuality.
Through photographs of his work, floor plans, and interviews with various individuals, you can learn about the "open architecture" that Ryue Nishizawa pursues, why it is called a modern sensibility, how he obtains such inspiration, and how it is expressed in architecture.
Ryue Nishizawa is an architect I would like to strongly introduce not only to architecture students but also to domestic readers interested in architecture and cities.
Let's redefine the meaning of 'modern architecture' by looking at the architecture of Ryue Nishizawa, which is motivated by communication and exchange.

Architectural design contains social aspects.
I have always wanted to create architecture that is open to society and others, rather than designing only for myself.
In that sense, creating possibilities is a very important task.
I want to create architecture that makes people feel a sense of possibility.
However, on the other hand, there are cases where users are surprised when things turn out differently than expected.
Of course, the residents will understand my concept or design intentions, but there are still times when I would have made completely different choices, whether it be furniture or curtains.
There are ways of living and using things that I cannot do and that only they can do.
Pages 25-26

I value 'easy understanding'.
I want to make the sentences I write myself and the architecture as simple and easy to understand as possible.
Architecture is fundamentally designed to be usable by anyone.
I like that kind of easy understanding and simplicity.
… … I am interested in the universality of architecture, and confronting that universality does not make the story difficult for me, but rather makes it very understandable.
At both the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa and the Towada City Museum of Contemporary Art (2008), we aimed for an easily understandable state that many people would see and feel was "open."
Clearly, the architecture was focused on what it wanted to say.
Architecture that is conveyed in a casual and sensual manner without any professional knowledge or preliminary information.
I want to build with that kind of clarity.
Pages 30-31

Rather than being indoors, it feels like a garden, with furniture and plants scattered around under the blue sky.
I thought it might be possible to create a bright environment overflowing with light.
For example, the sunroom/laundry room in the center of the building can be used for drying laundry, watering flowers, or hosting parties, making it the space closest to a garden in terms of both its use and the impression of the space.
There is a large skylight, so when you open it wide during lunchtime or in the summer and fall, the entire room becomes a courtyard, with a gentle breeze flowing through.
However, it was designed with the hope that it would not be limited to this room, but would be a transparent and open space like a garden, where one would feel as if there was no distinction between inside and outside, no matter where one was.
The 'transparency' mentioned here is not the oppressive transparency of glass and steel seen in modern architecture, but rather aims for a peaceful and comfortable space like the spring sunshine.
Page 43

“Whenever I build a building, I think about the furniture, no matter what its purpose is.
Furniture, architecture, gardens, streets and cities are all connected and linked into one world.
I am an architect in the sense that I create buildings, but I also want to create urban environments and actively think about cities, such as regions, communities, and streets.
“To create the environment I desire, furniture is just as important as the appearance of the street.” _Page 80

Architecture is a landscape created by the combination of various details that create harmony.
For example, a building is completed by the assembly of various details, such as a roof or beams, a kitchen or bedroom, a facility plan, a structural plan, or a landscape.
How they come together is a matter of 'harmony', of detail.
Another way to say this is that it is a process of architecture.
Detail is the process of 'how architecture is established.'
… …Architecture is a large world that is related to the entirety of human life, such as ‘eating’, ‘sleeping’, and ‘wearing’.
You could call it a worldview.
Page 85

“In architecture, regionality and culture are really important.
When you do architecture, you directly reveal that your values ​​are fundamentally Japanese or Asian.
Because architecture is directly connected to human life and living, everything from how to build a kitchen to how to build an office or bedroom, to how to think about structures, all come from one's own culture and values.
Architecture seems to be a product of local culture.
Conversely, by building, it becomes clear what the region is and what the regional culture is.
In any case, when building, you must consider the region.” _Page 111

When looking at Le Corbusier's fierce architecture, one feels that there is something extra in his architectural methods.
The dynamism that keeps increasing, the rough force, you could say.
It's as if we're seeing creation and destruction at the same time, adding and subtracting.
There is a true work of art in progress, as if to say that there was no grand plan from the beginning.
In that respect, I feel Le Corbusier's enormous individual talent, while also feeling the freedom of his architectural creation, which is very European.
Page 139

If you ask why we do open architecture, the reason is to create relationships.
When you break off a relationship, nothing more happens.
However, when you connect relationships, it can lead to various creative developments.
This can be said to be true both in the sense of the relationship between inside and outside, and to some extent in the sense of the relationship between places.
Also, if we think about it in terms of the relationship between humans and architecture, wouldn't human activities be based on such architecture to create more creative architecture?
Architecture acts as a catalyst to bring about various relationships.
Page 233

Although the work of an architect designing and constructing a building is called architectural creation, the act of a resident using a completed building is also a creative act.
For example, just by moving into a building and hanging a curtain, you can express your own style, and just by placing your own furniture or clothes in your room, you can create a space that reflects your personality.
The act of 'using' and the act of 'dwelling' are creative acts.
_Page 240

Another important thing is that once a building is built, it doesn't end there. Only then do people begin to use it.
In other words, architecture is not about the past, but rather is made for the future and for the people of the future.
This is why creators design with the future in mind.
When we imagine what the future could be, it takes shape and becomes architecture.
Architecture symbolically represents the dreams, imagination, and possibilities of the people who built it.
In other words, architecture affirms that we live toward the future.
Page 248

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