Discuss the Evolution of the Concept of Metabolism and Symbiosis in Post-War Japanese Architecture - Essay Example

? EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF METABOLISM AND SYMBIOSIS IN POST-WAR JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE AND KEY ASPECTS OF THESE DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES Architecture Professor: Date: 1. Discuss the evolution of the concept of metabolism and symbiosis in post-war Japanese architecture. What are the key aspects of these design philosophies? The concept of metabolism and symbolism after the World War II was attributed to futurist umbrella through a movement, which was focused on Japanese culture and tradition1. Evolution of concept of metabolism is also was has been associated with the envisioning of Metabolist city by member of the movement2. In this case, this evolution was attributed to the philosophies of urban adaptability and renewability of ideas gathered from various Japanese, which were entrenched within the culture in theory and physical practices. Moreover, this was a representation of accomplishment of the contemporary and chronological Japanese architecture. This paper will focus on conducting an analysis of the Metabolist Architectural Movement that was initiated in 1960s after the World War II, in which Japan participated. Apparently, it is important to exploring its influence on the popular works of art in anime genre in order to understand the evolution of the concept of metabolism and symbolism after the World War II. Evolution of metabolism has been significantly influenced by acceptability into Science Fiction, and renders it to be considered an element of the Utopia, which is regarded to be post-apocalyptic aspect of Japanese society’s future. Therefore, integration of metabolism in Science Fiction is also considered an illustration of progress. Fundamentally, the theory of metabolism is based on two principles, which include symbiosis of various time periods, which is also referred to as diachronicity. In this case, “metabolism” is a term that is derived from science of biology in order to refer to the process and alteration, which is undergone by creatures during their lives. Initially, the first principles of metabolism were established by the movement for regeneration and metabolizing process attributed urban planning and architecture. Therefore, the terms metabolism is identified by the movement as a way of expressing believes for work of architecture, thereby arguing that it should be dynamic after its completion. In addition, members of this movement suggested that people should seek understanding of the works of architecture in terms of processes involved in its evolution from the past to present and to future. Evolution of the concept of metabolism and symbolism in Japan is evident through its role in facilitating political and cultural development after the Second World War. In fact, Metabolism Movement focused on redefining numerous relationships with designs, which were considered crucial. These relationships were attributed to features such as permanence, transience, expressing thoughts, and undertaking spontaneous planning. In this case, these were some of the ideas that were features in the schemes developed by Metabolists, through evolution of structures and impermanence of forms, which had attributes of substantial themes. Evolution of the concept of metabolism and symbolism has also been attributed increased prominence and respect for Japanese architecture. Actually, this Japanese architecture serves as a way influencing mentor to younger members of Metabolist Movement. Besides, this evolution facilitated conception of this movement into a large-scale plan of reconstructing Tokyo. On the other hand, there were suggestions made through Metabolism schemes to reconfigure the modern structure of the cities. Apparently, these this reconfiguration was aimed at fitting the lifecycle of citizens. Therefore, these structures were aimed at taking designs to promote growth and transformation in a way that was similar to the evolution and metamorphosis of an organism. In this case, the Metabolism Movement became Utopia in a way that led to inspiring of a notion, which regarded the city to be a process. Members of the movement could envision the structures in the sky and sea; they could also envision paradises of altering and adapting in accordance with the growth of human civilization. Evolution of concept of metabolism and symbolism led to introduction of new perception in to the field of international Architecture, which facilitated encouraging a shift of philosophies from modernism to post-modernism. Furthermore, this evolution led to a shift of the Metabolist movement from the field of architecture attributed to functionalism to structuralism. This shift was initially referred to as a megastructure based on the postmodern perception towards the period after the war and utopian cities. Initiation of megastructure was facilitated by a Metabolist called Maki through this envisioning of the city as a work of art in a way that reflected by a single structure. Apparently, this is an idea that is substantive due to significant connections in Japan with other Western architectural equivalents. In this case, this association facilitated sharing of ideas and mobility, which contributed significantly to the process of transforming the city to a modern city. On the other hand, there was another counterpart movement in Europe referred to as Archigram, it became a forward-thinking movement, which is comparable to the Metabolism. There were proposal made by members of the Metabolist movement regarding the megastructures, which were considered to be rational and real. In this case, Metabolisim emanated from the conventional Japanese concepts of obliteration and reincarnation, while its counterpart Archigram, focused on its ideas regarding the future of technology. Evolution of the concept of metabolism and symbolism can be illustrated by an exemplary example of Metabolist megastructures such as “The Marine City” in figure 1, which was personified by principal ideas of the movement. These ideas were derived from the conventional understanding of the cyclical movement of fatality, decomposition, and renaissance, which is decidedly Japanese. Members of Metabolist proposed that The Marine City had to be a permanent structure, which would provide a platform for establishing other temporary structures that would be demolished and rebuilt based on circumstances. Actually, the interchangeability of parts was very significant to the philosophy of the Metabolist; in fact, it became a basic aspect of these schemes, and they were portrayed during the 1960s. Figure 1: The Marine City Source: http://japanfocus.org/-vivian-blaxell/3386 On other hand, Metabolists, Kikutake expressed his interest in establishing systems of architecture; in order to facilitate utilization of natural resources, reduce the wastage and increase reusability3. Furthermore, this is an idea which evolved from a construction of wood to a method applied in roofs and walls in houses representing the traditions of Japanese. Therefore, through his ideas he developed a metabolism and economic system that was interchangeable comprising of reusable components. There was introduction of the concept of group by Maki, who was a Metabolist , with an idea aimed at achieving a totality via repetition of element sections without sacrificing people’s liberty of opposing the rigidness of megastructure4. At this point, Maki argued that conventional compositional technique for a city required addition of proposed element parts in order to attain totality. Therefore, Maki developed a system that facilitated changing the quality of the single elements of designs. There were other envisions by metabolists groups, whereby they considered them to be more than totality of the elements5. This envisioning entailed an entire theme of the structure, which formed a way of determining the uniformity of the elements, which would facilitate maintenance of particular levels of disorganizations. In this case, they focused on ensuring that entire quality was not changed; in fact, it remained a way of avoiding entirely static megastructure. The philosophies of megastructure is well portrayed by the cities of Cowboy Bebop, which are regarded to be a last haven of mankind and they entail ideas gathered form Metabolism6. These fictional cities include the marine city located on Ganymede Figure 2, though they exist perilously due to their reliance on design of megastructure for sustenance. On the other hand, they have equilibrium, which resonated around the environment maintenance of high level of expression among the citizens; thus, this forms the dreams of the cities, which were envisioned by Kikutake7. Figure 2: Cowboy Bebop and Ganymede Source: http://www.inetres.com/gp/anime/bebop/04/bebop_04_10.jpg http://raypunk.tumblr.com/post/774039880/a-city-on-ganymede-from-cowboy-bebop-episode-10 The other philosophies are associated with the influence of Marxists, which is evident through the notion that the world was obliterated by apocalyptic altitude of destruction. However, the level of destruction required rebuilding based on directives of Utopia megastructures. These philosophies are based on the cultural and social revolution in the works of Science Fiction, which is provoked by obliteration on great and crippling scale. However, there are demands to facilitate reformation of society based on the Utopian ways; in fact, recognition megastructure in various films in Japan. Therefore, these films depict the schemes of Metabolist associated with Kikutake and Kurokawa. Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cnhhe3hE_Tw/T1zdrXghveI/AAAAAAAADOc/dR8-jom4fxU/s1600/tokyo3.gif Members of the Metabolist movement had an envisioning of the movement which was never realized. However, these envisioning entailed philosophies of urban adaptability and renewability of various ideas gathered from Japanese8. Apparently, these ideas were directly theory of their culture and physical practices, which are represented by the modern and historical architecture. For instance, this envisioning was made by one of the Mordernist Kikutake, whereby he established ideas regarding “Tower-shaped City” and “The Marine city”9. Apparently, these ideas facilitated emerging of the Metabolist movement and introduction of ways of exploring the international Architectural prospects, which facilitated a shift from the philosophies of designs from modernism to postmodernism10. Therefore, the philosophies of metabolism would be entailed in the Utopian structures, while the philosophies of adaptation would be entailed in the evolution and regeneration to deal with destruction after the World War II The aspect of design philosophies can be expressed through the structure of Nakagin Capsule Tower, which is situated at Ginza, in Tokyo11; This building was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, and it has been regarded the finest structure, which captures the philosophies of the Metabolist Movement in 1960s12. Apparently, this building entails a design which has two permanent towers, which acts as reinforcements of structure of the interchangeable capsule compartment; the tower has flexible capsules due to its joints and it is meant to represent the philosophies of adaptability and renewability. Source: http://www.lejapon.fr/blog/index.php?2008/12/19/762-tour-nakagin-capsule Bibliography Ando, Tadao. ‘Toward new Horizons in Architecture’, Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture, Kate Nesbitt (ed.), New York: Princeton, 1996. Bognar, Botond. Contemporary Japanese architecture, its development and challenge. New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold, c1985, Ch. 4, pp. 103-202 Junichiro Tanizaki. 'In Praise of Shadows', Intimus, Interior Design Theory Reader, M. Taylor and J. Preston (eds.) Chichester, England ; Hoboken, NJ : Wiley-Academy, 2006, pp.335-338. Kiyoshi Takeyama. ‘Tadao Ando: Heir to a Tradition’, Perspecta, Vol.20 1983, pp.163-180. Kikutake, Kiyonori, and Maurizio Vitta. Kiyonori Kikutake: From Tradition to Utopia. Milano: L'Arca Ed., 1997. Print. Kikutake Kiyonori et al. Metabolism: The Proposals for New Urbanism Tokyo: Bijutsu shuPansha, 1960. Koolhaas, Rem, and Hans Ulrich Obrist. Project Japan: metabolism talks., K ln, London: Taschen, 2011. Lin, Z. Nakagin Capsule Tower: Revisiting the Future of the Recent Past. 2011; Journal of Architectural Education. 13-32. Lin Z. Kenzo Tange and the Metabolist Movement. 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2012. Ross, Michael Franklin. Beyond Metabolism: The New Japanese Architecture. New York: Architectural Record, 1978. Print. Yadate, Hajime, Yutaka Nanten, and Amy Forsyth. Cowboy Bebop. Los Angeles: TOKYOPOP, 2002. Print. Read More