JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
- ep3g19
- May 22, 2021
- 4 min read
Researching Japanese Architecture
According to Josh's GDD, Anima Mundi is inspired by a Japanese theme and should reflect this within the art-style or environment. I have created an Art Bible to guide artists asset creation to ensure we keep the art style consistent throughout and assets will be made to the same standard.
To reflect on the Japanese theme, it would be ideal to include traditional Japanese architecture within the environment and represent this through little unique details. I will then provide artists with inspiration mood-boards, colour schemes and assign creation of these assets accordingly.
INSPIRATION MOOD-BOARD - JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
RESEARCH LINK: https://pin.it/4VtusBR
I have used Pinterest to gather pins of traditional Japanese Architecture including lanterns, Japanese temples, torii gates and huts.
The colour scheme from this architecture will be documented and put into the Art Bible which can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qKwRhWw8a2JGt2Nr4HGmWCvtkofPeI06UNyEWZNRwFY/edit?usp=sharing
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
"Japanese Architecture - Japan’s most celebrated buildings & architects"
RESEARCH LINK:
Japanese architecture is 'a mixture of traditional design practise and modern Western aesthetics'. Some of Japan's first shrines were built similar to ancient homes until it developed its own style. The preferred building material for Japanese architecture was wood, and this is due to the lack of resources due to volcanic activity. Wood has also proven resistance to earthquakes!
Verandas are often around the outside of older Japanese houses as well as nature. Nature is an important feature of Japanese architecture, using raw wood as their consistent building material, both inside and outside houses.
'One of the most famous imperial and ancient Buddhist temples in Japan' is 'Yakushi-Ji Temple' built in 680 A.D.
FEATURES IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE
Verandas
Wood
Screens and sliding doors
Nature
'Genken'
JAPANESE TEMPLES
Temples are places of worship in Japanese Buddhism. Sacred Buddhist objects are often stored and displayed in temples and some used to be monasteries.
Here are a few examples of Japanese temples:
Reds, Greens, Browns
Darker details
Sliding doors
Lanterns
Traditional shapes
Lots of natural light
Often made out of wood
TORII GATES
"To mark the entrance to a sacred space"
Torii gates are traditional Japanese gates commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine. A Shinto Shrine marks 'the transition from the mundane to the sacred'. They are traditionally made from wood or stone but recently have been made from copper, steel or other similar materials.
FUN FACT! It's believed that torii gates are red in order to reflect off 'evil spirits, danger and bad luck'. Red paint is known to be made using mercury which since ancient times has been used as a preservative for wood.
They often stand in water to appear as if they are floating and separate from land. They appear before approaching the shrine.
Red in colour
Basic structure
Black/Grey details
Often found in water
JAPANESE LANTERNS
"Lanterns represent love, brightness and protection from evil"
In 600 A.D. silver and stone lanterns were first used to illuminate Japanese temples. They are usually placed near water or along a curve in a path. Lanterns are a part of Japanese culture and each hold their own significance. Here are a few examples:
Tachi-Gata - stylised lotus flower at the top as a symbol for growing wealth and career progress. Also to symbolise purity.
Yukimi-Gata - 'snow-viewing' lanterns often with a capture of snow on the roof. The origin of these lanterns symbolise the cycle of life and early marriage.
Oki-Gata - Usually made out of stone and granite. "They symbolise the nature through the concept of finding beauty in the imperfection and impermanence in the natural world".
LINK TO PIN BOARD: https://pin.it/5JU1OdS
RESEARCH LINK:
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
"the national flower of Japan"
A cherry blossom are known as Japanese cherry and Sakura trees. They are ornamental cherry trees (not the fruit for eating) and is considered as 'the national flower of Japan'. The cherry blossom is very significant in Japanese culture and there are several different variations of cherry tree in Japan.
Cherry blossom only seems to bloom for a few days in Spring, therefore the 'seasonal spectacle' is celebrated with cherry blossom viewings called 'Hanami parties' under the blossom trees'.
HOW WILL THIS BENEFIT OUR VERTICAL SLICE? HOW WILL I USE THIS?
To create the environment of our vertical slice, it will contain traditional Japanese architecture and nature (cherry blossoms) to reflect the theme and all of which will be designed in our own unique art style. I will provide artists with guidance on art style, colour schemes, brush types and other necessary information.
The most famous architecture which hold the most meaning are Torii gates and Temples/huts which I think would be a great addition to our Japanese inspired Air Region. These assets can be placed in both the background and/or the foreground of the environment and act as the little details for players to engage with and observe.
The cherry blossoms hold great significance in Japanese culture and would be a beautiful addition to the environment to include fully blossomed trees! This also links with the tree restoration puzzle which I can instruct to be designed in the same style!
My next steps will be to provide artists with mood-boards of this architecture and a brief summary of what we are trying to achieve.
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