Between Inside and Outside
In traditional Japanese architecture, the boundary between inside and outside is not always a single line.
There may be a garden, followed by the eaves, an engawa, a shoji or fusuma, and finally the tatami room beyond.
Moving from the garden towards the interior, the character of the space changes gradually rather than all at once. This sequence is one of the qualities that makes traditional Japanese architecture particularly interesting to look at.
It can also create a place between two things.
The Engawa
The engawa is often described as a veranda, but that translation does not quite capture its role.
Positioned between the interior of the house and the garden, it can be a place to sit, talk, rest or simply look outside.
You are not quite inside, but you are not quite in the garden either. That position is precisely what makes the engawa so interesting.
The garden, in turn, becomes part of the experience of the room. It is not simply something outside the building to be looked at from a distance.
The view, the changing light and the movement of the seasons become part of everyday life inside the house.
When Light Crosses the Boundary
Shoji screens create another kind of boundary.
When closed, they can obscure the view outside, but they do not completely shut out the light.
Morning light, the softer brightness of an overcast day, or the changing tones of late afternoon can still be felt inside.
Shoji and fusuma also allow a room to change according to how it is used.
Open them and the room can extend towards the garden. Close them and the same space becomes more enclosed. Architecture becomes something that can be adjusted rather than fixed.
Doma: When the Outside Enters the House
The relationship can work in the opposite direction too. Instead of extending the house towards the garden, the outside world can enter the house.
The doma is one example. Traditionally, this earthen-floored area allowed people to enter while still wearing shoes and served as a practical space for work, storage, cooking and everyday movement.
It formed a threshold between the world outside and the raised tatami areas of the house.
everyday life and the outside world meet.
Architecture and Garden as One
When looking at traditional Japanese architecture, it is easy to focus on the building itself. But doing so can leave something important out.
Gardens, ponds, stones, trees and changing light are not simply a backdrop to the architecture. They can become part of the experience of the building itself.
From the house, the garden becomes part of the view. From the garden, the building becomes part of the landscape.
Moving between these perspectives changes the experience of both architecture and garden.
Why the Boundary Matters
Of course, not all Japanese architecture follows the same principles. Traditional buildings vary considerably depending on their period, region, purpose and context.
Yet spaces such as the engawa, eaves, shoji and doma repeatedly show an interest in creating gradual transitions between inside and outside.
There are practical reasons for this. Light and air can enter the house, while gardens and seasonal changes remain part of everyday life.
But there is also something more subtle happening. A boundary does not necessarily have to be a line that closes one space off from another. It can be a place that allows the relationship between them to continue.
What Exists Between Things
One reason BYAKKO is drawn to old things is that they carry layers of time.
Architecture, ceramics and clothing all change through use. Surfaces wear, colours shift, repairs are made, and traces of previous lives remain.
Looking at these things only as new or old does not always tell the whole story.
The same can be said of architectural boundaries. Sometimes the most interesting part is not the inside or the outside, but the space between them.
The Engawa Is Not One Fixed Form
The word engawa refers to a range of architectural forms, and its exact relationship to the interior and exterior can vary depending on the building and period.
Some are more exposed to the outside, while others sit closer to the interior. Looking at these differences makes it clear that an engawa is more than simply a corridor. It is a way of negotiating distance between the house and its surroundings.
Beyond the Boundary
When looking at architecture, perhaps it is worth looking not only at walls and structures, but also at the spaces between them.
Where does the outside end? Where does the inside begin?
Perhaps the most interesting spaces are the ones where there is no simple answer.