-Trust, I haven't figured out how to pronounce it either-
As part of our teams studio proposal we needed to investigate the use of cemetery spaces in both a traditional and more progressive sense. Our investigation led us to a vertical cremation cemetery located in the heart of Shinjuku. Bound by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government buildings and the cultural node.
Design by Japanese Architect Kiyoshi Sey Takeyama.
In Japanese buddhism, water is used as a way of transferring "merits" from this life to another. This is done during the funeral ceremony of a deceased individual. Water is poured from a vase into a cup until the cup overflows. This signifies the complete transfer of values from this life to the next.
In Byakurenge, water drains from the upper most outdoor floor, down consecutive floors and into this pool which is audible connected to the interior via the pipe you see on the left.
Ku-no-ma
Kumarajiva Memorial Hall
From the brochure:
"Ku-no-ma is a wellwhole space form the 4th floor to the 6th floor. This space was created to enable anyone who is interested to participate in meditation and chanting and obtain a sense of tranquility. To make this space eben more meaningful, it was built with excellent acoustics under expert guidance. As such, it can also be used as a space for a range of events, including performances by music ensembles.
This area was named Kumarajiva Memorial Hall in honor of the person who transmitted the idea of emptiness to East Asia and Japan. Located near the entrance is a miniature version of a statue of Kumarajivi himself that was built in 3013 at the site of the castle ruins in Kucha, Kumarajiva's birthplace. It is a gift from the present-day Kuqa County. Pierre Marietan, an authority on French ambient music, was impressed when he say the building and design drawings for Ku-no-ma. He composed a piece entitled "Between Heaven and earth", dedicated to Ku-no-ma.
Ancillary Photo Gallery
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