Architects: Tokujin Yoshioka
Year: 2015
Photographs: Yasutake Kondo, Tokujin Yoshioka
City: Kyoto
Country: Japan
KOU-AN Glass Tea House, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, explores the Japanese perception of nature through the reinterpretation of the traditional tea ceremony. The project began with the 2002 Transparent Japanese House concept, later evolving into a glass teahouse, and was presented at Glasstress 2011. In 2015, it was unveiled at Seiryu-den in Kyoto’s Shoren-in Temple. Unlike traditional teahouses, KOU-AN omits elements like scrolls and flowers, using light effects to evoke natural phenomena. Tokujin Yoshioka aims to connect viewers to the origins of Japanese culture by integrating nature and unconscious sensations into the design.
“Tracing the origin of cultures peculiar to Japanese by reinterpreting the culture of tea ceremony”
The Japanese conception of nature is often defined by a unique spatial perception that emphasizes the sensory awareness of the surrounding atmosphere, often described as sensing energies or aura. This approach to appreciating nature’s intrinsic beauty is evident in the practice of the Japanese tea ceremony.
This project began with the architectural concept of the Transparent Japanese House, introduced in 2002. The idea evolved into a transparent teahouse, integrating symbolic elements of Japanese culture. The design was showcased at Glasstress 2011, a collateral event of the 54th La Biennale di Venezia.
In spring 2015, five years after the design was first presented, the “KOU-AN Glass Teahouse” was finally unveiled at Seiryu-den, within the Shoren-in Temple precinct, a designated National Treasure in Japan. This marked the first full-scale exhibition of the completed “KOU-AN” teahouse.
The culture of the Tea Ceremony originally developed within a confined, microcosmic space.
The “KOU-AN Glass Tea House” is more than a modernized version of a traditional teahouse; it is a project that traces the origins of a culture unique to Japan.
“KOU-AN” lacks the scroll and flowers found in traditional teahouses. Instead, shimmering patterns resembling water ripples spread across the floor. In the afternoon, sunlight passing through a prism glass on the roof creates a rainbow effect, appearing like a flower of light.
Tokujin envisioned tracing the origins of Japanese culture through the unconscious sensations experienced within the teahouse, a microcosmic space. He sought to capture the passage of time intertwined with nature, moving beyond superficial designs to create a deeper connection with the natural world.
In A.D. 794, a Japanese emperor visited Shogunzuka and decided that Kyoto was the ideal location for Japan’s capital, leading to its construction. As a result, Shogunzuka, within the Shoren-in Temple precinct in Kyoto, holds historical significance as the site where the city, a symbol of Japanese culture, was first envisioned.
Tokujin aims to share new experiences globally through this project, inspiring people to reflect on the origins of Japanese culture.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
