Kochuu: Japanese Architecture / Influence & Origin

Synopsis

KOCHUU is about modern Japanese architecture, its roots in the Japanese tradition, and its impact on the Nordic building tradition. Winding its way through visions of the future and traditional concepts, nature and concrete, gardens and high-tech spaces, the film explains how contemporary Japanese architects strive to unite the ways of modern man with the old philosophies in astounding constructions. Features interviews with some of Japan’s leading architects as well as Scandinavian contemporaries including Pritzker Prize winners Tadao Ando and Sverre Fehn, Toyo Ito, Kazuo Shinohara, Kristian Gullichsen and Juhani Pallasmaa.

'Kocguu’ translates as ‘in the jar’ and refers to the Japanese tradition of constructing small, enclosed physical spaces, which create the impression of a separate universe. The film illustrates key components of traditional Japanese architecture, such as reducing the distinction between outdoors and indoors, disrupting the symmetrical, building with wooden posts and beams rather than with walls, modular construction techniques, and its symbiotic relationship with water, light and nature. The film illustrates these concepts through views of the Imperial Katsura Palace, the Todai-Ji Temple, the Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum, the Sony Tower, numerous teahouses and gardens, as well as examples of the cross-fertilization evidenced in buildings throughout Scandinavia, and shows how ‘invisible’ Japanese traditions are evident even in modern, high-tech buildings.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of production

2006

Subjects

Architecture

Keywords

Japan; modern architecture

Online availability

URI

http://www.artfilms-digital.com/Search.aspx?q=kochuu

Price

poa

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Director

Jesper Wachtmeister

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£14.99 (QL) £145.00 Artfilms)

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

53 minutes

Year

2010

Distributor

Name

Artfilms Europe

Email

info@artfilms.com.au

Web

http://www.artfilms.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 208 265 1752

Fax

+44 207 117 5174

Address

PO Box 71507
London
SE10 1BY
United Kingdom

Notes

Artfilms Europe is the European distributor of the collection of Contemporary Arts Media, Australia (previously known as Hush Video). The collection originally specialised in drama and the performing arts but has since widened its remit across the arts spectrum to include visual arts, design, architecture, new media and digital arts in its collection of over 5,000 titles. Separate subject catalogues, printed or online in pdf format, are available for theatre, dance, visual arts, film & cinema, new media, music, performance art and communication & culture. Sale on DVD or streamed on a pay-per-view or subscription basis from www.artfiflms-digital.com. From 2015, private users can subscribe via a digital site licence for £8 per month, allowing access to a selection of 300 - 400 films.

Name

Quantum Leap

Notes

The company ceased trading in 2018. It was previously a distributor and online retailer specialising in non-fiction DVD titles on a wide variety of subjects, particularly in the areas of music instruction, music performance, sport instruction, and health. Some titles also available through retail outlets.

 

Available from retail outlets