Japan Kyoto Studio
DESCRIPTION: Dr. Howe has supported design studios conducted on location in Kyoto, Japan. These studios include University of Oregon's Kyoto Studio managed by Ron Lovinger. In a compact six week course, students are immursed in traditional Japanese culture while they complete a design assignment on a local site. The design studio mainly takes place in a Shoin-style temple in Kyoto, where students work on low tables in tatami mat rooms to complete drawings and sketches using traditional media, and digital work on their laptop computers. Dr. Howe has planned and conducted the studio in some years, and attended as a faculty member in other years.

OBJECTIVES: The Kyoto / Japan studios co-taught by Dr. Howe conform with National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Condition 13 Criterion 3 "Graphic Skills", Criterion 5 "Formal Ordering Systems", Criterion 6 "Fundamental Design Skills", Criterion 14 "Accessibility", Criterion 15 "Sustainable Design", Criterion 16 "Program Preparation", and Criterion 17 "Site Conditions".

INPUT / CONSTRAINTS:

  • A site in Japan with historical or cultural significance.

OUTPUT / DELIVERABLES:

  • A design solution appropriate for the local community and culture.
  • Sometimes digital analyses are required.

EXAMPLE STUDENT WORK:

Each year the Kyoto Studio students work on a different set of problems. In 2001, Dr. Howe conducted the Kyoto Studio using a site on the Japan Sea. The students developed a masterplan for the small community of Ine-cho, Japan, in the Kyoto Prefecture. The 2001 students were Kristen Bennhoff, David Bloom, Cristina Bontia, Ryan Botkins, Katalin Czege, Jennifer Dillon, Jeb Doran, Brookley Duke, Sarah Fancher, Joanna Frye, Anne Godfrey, Elizabeth Hanley, Kimberly Huber, Brian Hyslop, Natira Jones, Dafyd Rawlings, Aaron Reddick, Ramin Rezvani, Chris Rymal, Aldrin Soedarto, Jason Swift, Jacob Weinstein, Scot Williams, Summer Young. Faculty members were Ron Lovinger, Michael Fifield, A. Scott Howe, Hiroyasu Kudo, Sarah Thompson.


Figure 1: Report cover for the master plan


Figure 2: Watercolor paintings showing current linear town planning following the waterfront


Figure 3: Watercolor drawing showing current cross-section of dwellings


Figure 4: Ine-cho scenery, painted by students


Figure 5: Proposed town square

An Acrobat PDF file of the full masterplan report can be downloaded from the digital preservation section of the Research Topic.
A Scott Howe, PhD