metareview

because i was not feeling inspired to write a follow up on that book review and other thoughts (which you can read here) (PF came home for the weekend, i had a lunch date and some more other dates) i decided to remain lazy instead by posting a series of reviews of the book here:

"Shaking the Foundations reveals the passions hidden behind the cool, abstract exterior of the Japanese design scene. Through a series of in-depth interviews renowned architects such as Tadao Ando, Arata Isozaki, and Kazuo Shinohara speak out on issues ranging from the philosophies of Japanese Modernism to the politics of urban planning in Japanese cities. Often contradictory, but never dull, these interviews offer compelling insights into contemporary Japanese culture." (this one did not have the name of the reviewer...)


and

When the inevitable backlash comes against the cult of Koolhaas, one of the charges against him will be that his polemic about Asian architecture and urbanism is based on a shaky understanding of the countries involved. Koolhaas will no doubt be accused of creating a modern form of what Edward Said termed 'Orientalism'; that is, the tendency to impose a Western construct on Eastern cultures (Murray Fraser, November 1999). (An abstract of the longer article which can only be rad if you are a paid subscriber. Though short, this might be the best comment I've read so far because it reminds me of how Filipinos tend to view Filipino history and culture (yes, including architecture): with western eyes. I will not even begin to tell you how a licensed Filipino female architect called me un-nationalistic after saying that i do not expect Filipinos to really win in international competition. I am digressing, yes. Just because i was not all praises for Filipino works does not mean i do not like being a Filipino nor am i not nationalistic, because for one, I STAYED. HERE. I work here, in the Philippines.) (And also because when i first watched a Koolhaas interview (or documentary--was it?) about his China exploits he looked very haughty. And also because PF said he's really that. a snob.)

Third and last, the omnipresent Amazon Review:

Questioning the spirit of Japanese architecture today, this book tries to identify the mind-set and philosophy driving some of the world's foremost eastern designers. It reveals the personalities and passions behind the cool, abtract exterior of the Japanese design scene in the form of a collection of interviews. Renowned architects speak out on issues ranging from the rebirth of Japanese design after World War II to progressive technologies, while newcomers disclose the trials and tribulation of "making it" in today's competitive market. If past and present are any indication of the future, then this volume predicts that Japanese architecture will gain a stronger foothold and following in global design theory in the decades to come.

that's all folks!

Interviewing Japanese.

Husband recently bought a used book entitled Shaking the Foundations: Japanese Architects in Dialogue. It features interviews conducted in 1997 by Christopher Knabe and Joerg Rainier Noennig (editors) of 15 Japanese architects. What's interesting about this book, as my husband also mentioned to me gushing about this, is that each of these architects were made to comment on the philosophy and/or works of other architects featured in the book. Some were not intentionally asked to comment but in the course of the conversation eventually did.

Japanese are by and large, not very confrontational. When they comment, it's usually so meticulously edited of any form of negativity that if not read or heard well sometimes sounded like praises. In my experience working with a handful of them, they do not comment, especially if they have nothing better to say.

I've finished reading interview with Kisho Kurokawa, Riken Yamamoto and Kengo Kuma -- all very varied in their philosophy. I especially enjoyed Yamamoto's interview because he talked mostly about city planning, of how architecture directly affects the social structures in the community, and how the government failed . He told of how the mere widening of the street disrupted the social activities of his community, virtually erasing all of what he's known his community for. It probably was the same feeling when the flyover along General Luna was built. it created a virtual wall that created a permanent demarcation between Melly's and UP. Now, very few university students go to Melly's and Melly's has stopped being an influential shady shanty to the high school kids. The UP High are starting to miss a lot of high school now that the flyover is there.

Yamamoto discussed a little about architectural education in Japan. Yamamoto said that Japanese architecture education is engineering and not design oriented which is surprising considering that a handful of them have been well-praised for their designs.

Meanwhile, Filipino architects are now mostly in Singapore or in the middle-east, working as CAD monkeys so they can afford iphones and macbooks. That is the kind of architecture education that you get from Iloilo universities.

Apparently, Architect/Architecture is just some high-falluting title for a profession that could render one virtually penniless. And if one would really choose to become an architect, a lot of sacrifices are made. I understand PF's choice of wanting to practice his profession in the city because if i were in his shoes, i would certainly make the same decision.

as to why, i will discuss tomorrow.


UPDATE:
Somebody from pushpullbar is actually interviewing Kuma-san tomorrow (February 4)! The real interviewing Japanese. Wow, if that forum is not the best forum in the world, i don't know what is.