2022 AUTUMN ONISHI STUDIO

Maki Onishi, Ayaka Matsuda

A Utopia of Our Time “School of the future”

In this term’s Onishi Studio, We would like to think about schools in the future, focusing on schools, especially elementary and junior high schools, which are called compulsory education.
We learn a lot in school, but we also learn a lot outside of school. So what is school? In today’s world where diverse values are recognized, is it possible to go back to the question, “What is learning?” and reconsider how schools should be.

In today’s world, where the birthrate is declining and the population is aging, many elementary and junior high schools are being consolidated and abolished, and new schools are being explored. In addition, alternative schools are beginning to emerge, such as allowing children who do not attend school , and thinking about learning together with the community.
Thinking about the future of our children means thinking about the future of our society.
Let’s think together about what kind of schools are possible while inheriting the system of compulsory education in modern Japan.

As we advance the studio, we would like to emphasize the following points.
– To learn about the state of compulsory education in Japan and understand its good points and points to be improved.
-Research what kind of schools are emerging around the world as alternative schools.
– Think about what it means to learn, and build your own learning system based on the current compulsory education.
-Propose a new learning space.

■ Reading Club
I would like to start the studio by reading Ivan Ilyich’s “Society of the Ex-School”.

■ References
・Society of the Ex-School ,Ivan Ilyich’s
・Louis.I.Kahn. Writings, Lectures, Interviews , Rizzoli
・Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire
・Anthropology: Why It Matters, Tim Ingold

2022 SPRING ONISHI STUDIO

Maki Onishi, Ryosuke Takei

A Utopia of Our Time
Think from the landscape of the house and garden

Envision a utopia of our time.
I imagine a place where humans, animals, and plants live in harmony, where everyone eats, sleeps, works, raises children, grows old, gets sick, and faces death together, and where joy and sorrow, wonder and fear, relief and pleasure are evoked in wonderful ways.

Architects have attempted to envision utopia through architecture in various ways. To envision a utopia is to ask the question, “How should we live?” and present our ideas through architecture. This also means thinking about what kind of community the future society needs, the space that will surround it.
Let’s work together to envision a utopia for this age we are living in.

At this term’s studio, everyone will read “Landscape of House and Garden: Spatial Consideration of Japanese Houses” by Tomoya Masuda. While reading the spatial composition of traditional Japanese houses, I would like to think about how the learning there can be connected to the future living environment and the state of the city.

■Design Criteria

・ The site is free, but fictitious sites are not allowed.
・ Think of a community of diverse members.
・ To live in the community as an architect and become a member of the management members.
・ Must include residence.
・ Think not only about one building, but about the outdoor space and the surrounding city.

◾️About reading circle

・ Landscape of House and Garden: Spatial consideration of Japanese housing by Tomoya Masuda, Nakanishiya
Publishing, I’m thinking of reading it together.
1st Esquisse (4/15)
2nd Esquisse (4/19):Introduction to Chapter 2
4/23 (Sat) 15: 00-: We will hold about reading circle for Chapter 3 with Professor Haruhito Sano, the principal of
Kyoto Architectural College, who is a student of Tomoya Masuda in Yoshiyamachi, Kyoto.
About reading circle will continue to be held thereafter.

◾️Re-reading

・Choose one of the traditional Japanese architecture related to the above book and consider each one.

■References

・Louis.I.Kahn. Writings, Lectures, Interviews , Rizzoli
・Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire
・Anthropology: Why It Matters, Tim Ingold