A Place of Encounter: Spa in Hokkaido

The Japanese character “en”, is a word of paradoxical meaning.

1) Edge or margin. A boundary that surrounds a locus without closing it off. An edge for inter-penetration between differing terrains.
2) An action that aids a cause in generating an effect. An indirect cause. An unexpected, curious encounter.

 

The origin of the word lies in Buddhism culture, but even in the contemporary Japanese society under heavy western influence, it is deeply rooted in people’s everyday discourse and behavior. When the concept is extended towards architecture, we start to think about an edge as both a boundary and a connection, and to think about a building both as an object of penetration and enclosure.

The spa is composed from a series of transforming edges. To further explore the complex definition of En, the building layers programmatic elements and creates a constantly changing spatial sequence. The idea of “edges” expand beyond tectonic elements, and becomes integrated with programs and circulations. As one pass through the series of edges, his vision changes from dark to light, the materials he touches transforms from rough and solid to soft and translucent. The transformation in architecture corresponde to the sensation of the visitor, the architecture unfolds as the visitor’s body will tension and gradually relax. The edges are not only encounters between different spaces in architecture, they are also architecture’s encounter with its visitors.

There are two systems of circulation in the spa: overlaying and to unwinding. The layers of elements are tied together by a winding ramp, which provide the visitors with two paces of walking. When walking through the central core, one sees the layers overlaid and experiences the sensual changes in a linear manner. But if he choose to wonder and explore, he will discover quiet gardens and places of repose along the way. The encounters expand from the physical architecture, and create interesting connections between people within.