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Tranquil
Architechtural Design
fusing
Zen Design/Wabi Sabi/Feng Shui
Creating Living Architecture
Creating materials, textures, and space within Wabi Sabi is sacred art within itself. Zen Architects will
fuse Wabi-sabi/Feng Shui applications into an zenergy blend. These systems
may originate from the eastern globe, yet the genre needs not follow
eastern culture. In fact, the principles may apply with all worldly
materials and methods to trace with any theme, yet still be Wabi-Sabi.
Some examples of blending east into west is the Bungalow folk craftsman
style, Frank Lloyd Wright "Prairie" and Greene & Greene "Gamble"
. Successfully and timelessly these craftsman styles of architecture
bridge East/West coherently. Some deeper examples of Wabi Sabi eclectic
approaches as follow:
Textiles: Great resource
for textiles or tapestries can come from 3rd World countries. Most 3rd
world items are hand made rather than machine made. The energy transmitted
through hand made items are lively. The imperfections with irregularities
adds to a relaxed feeling. Examples include paper (Shoji screens), hemp
plant, grass, silk, cotton and natural pigments, all add to the indigenous
themes.
Materials/Textures/Colors: Where new materials can't appear
old, chemical treated patinas may be applied as finishes for all metals.
Color bleed acid etched concrete is a great substitute for finish floor.
Sand blasting or wired brush for metal or wood also accelerates weathered
look appearance. Grass wallpaper or wall paper infused with art/ calligraphy
adds bold interest.
Art/Murals: Contemporary
art that is minimalist by nature often works with Wabi-sabi. Calligraphy
and Sumi wet-brush paintings enrich the rooms. A lighted or accented
alcove known as "tokonoma" becomes a great showcase for flaunting art,
textiles, cermaics, flower pot or sculpture. By obtaining original art
work rather machined copied vitalizes a space as containing an aura
feel. Kinesiology testing Scientifically demonstrates original art as
compared to a machined copy to same art image has far more benefits
for our well being. Hand crafted murals designed for particular walls
also contribute personally for room space. Seeking indigenous and folk
art pieces add eccentricity, and floods energy to the room.
Artwork painted
by John Salat.
Decorations & Accessories: Statues, hand
crafted items and fixtures facilitate balance to stagnant spots of rooms.
Even displaying non-practical senseless items such as old hand warn
tools, farm implements and ancient music instruments add balance to
space. Also, hand crafted plumbing/electrical fixtures complement rooms
well through using wood carved sinks/tubs right down to decorative metal
art switch plates that all align to craftsmanship feel. The final touches
of "Ikebana" flower arrangements draws forth the existence of nature,
especially when complemented with potted crude ceramic containers known
as "Raku."
Furniture/Framing/Hardware:
Roughen exposed ceiling framing, hand made or sometimes custom furniture
personalizes a room. Wood furniture with integrated network of joiners,
fingers, pegs, exposed wood pegs and other custom fittings give a sense
of Wabi Sabi. The exposed crude and hammered metal hardware and surfaces
gives sense of rustic feel. Often, examples of these surfaces are over-warned/hand
polished antiques passed through time and have bruised exposed patinas
that wear naturally caused by man and nature. Eclectically, mixing antiques
with modern pieces celebrates all of time.
Gong designed and construction by John Salat
Indoor Lights/Shadows: The Japanese word "Sabi" in
Wabi Sabi refers to Shadowy world of solitude/quietness. The darkness
empties to spur mystery while dimness evokes spirit to dwell and eventually
clear all distractions to everyday life. The ascetic hermits sometimes
visited dark caves within the deep mountains as to acquire abstinence.
Rooms too can have a soft quite corners with bright transitory light
spaces. Accenting with low voltage lighting or using Shoji screens to
diffuse light mysteriously though borrow from adjacent space while accenting
the shadowy contrast spaces. According the oriental values, the nexus
between light and darkness collide to create both form and substance
so to rise life. Spatial conception and expression is lively addressed
with light and shadow combinations. From sedated/meditative to active/brilliance
for tasking, all spaces create a pleasant pallet of balanced with transitionary
to Yin/Yang.
Outdoor Gardens: Gardens add refuge and serenity that
sets a mind truly free and clear. Creating a seamless harmonious flow
of hardscapes/softscapes adds interest through meandering pathways.
Originally, Zen monks strolled these garden pathways that lead to tea
rooms as to conquer spiritual synchronicity and kinaesthetically generate
peace and calm. These trails through the gardens create a feeling of
a stroll to desolate mountains where almost forgetting and refinding
ones soul. The gardens represent a microcosm of the Universe where scale
did not matter to transcend the macrocosm. The miniature trees (Bonsai
for example) allowed mediators to loose themselves in spacelessness.
These spaces were metaphors for the Universe which allows the serer
to disappear. From meditators view, evanescing evokes a hypnosis trance
like effect for contemplation. Using organic materials such as Bamboo
as softscape helps relax areas. Using real stone (Not Cultured) for
stepping stones/ retaining walls adds fittingly atmosphere with nature.
As for concrete, segregated edges and rounded serpentine corners breaks
up the stiffness. Dry gravel streams and raked sand seemingly braced
against protruding rocks emulates water eddies bouncing off like oceans
or natural streams causing an wonderful fluid-like medium. Water polished
pebble stones placed longitudinally helps suggest directions of stream
flow. Some examples are arid climates which offer contemporary desert
themes. Scarce vegetation using wispy brush braced by indigenous decomposed
red granite and rocks suggest Zen like atmosphere. For additional information
on Zen Gardens, click Gardens.
Acquisitions: Where one find
these materials and things is quite simple. Using indigenous materials
is honest, authentic, and by best most cost effective. Strolling along
deserted beaches for drift wood or hiking through rural areas is one
method to having fun and seeking abandoned treasures. For eclectic look,
shop at world import retailers, flea markets, antiques stores, scrape
metal reclamation centers and other salvage yards for materials. Building
demolition's such as barns, bridges, industrial buildings are a plus
for raw construction building/furniture materials. Also any other utility
rigging or industrious antique products can be found at reclamation
yards. Hopefully these products all have natural patinas or blemishes,
just need to be cleaned, sealed or treated for safe indoor use. In all,
these materials represent the Green Building concept for environmental
conservation through revived or recycled products.
Synergizing Humans with Environments: Energetically, no two humans are alike to reactions with the same environment. Yet we all strive for individual harmony of "Chi." In creating favourable environments to align with our bio/physical, a simple solution is attained. This technique is called applied Energy Kinesiology. Colors, textures, geometry and other physical/chemical influences have direct impacts to each individual. Pre diagnostics effectively maps appropriate sculptures and materials within architectural design, including incompatible chemical toxins. A procedure involving muscle testing can be quickly and easily accomplished. This simple procedure works through immediate feedback within mechanism of the nervous system and skeletal muscles. Examination is done without equipment or medical visits rather completed on site quickly using straight-arm resist test. By testing colors, textures, shapes, material substances, and even sleeping directional orientations, one can ascertain the most effective design methods prior to construction. The rewards is finding health, vitality with well-being for our home or work place, see Architect/Client Relationship.
Contact: John Salat at freeingwinds@earthlink.net or call 949-235-4847