villadialogue-Riichi Miyake

July 19, 2022

Amir Abbas

I use this quotation from James Ackerman to make this conversation about villa ideology.
"The villa is a paradigm not only of architecture but of ideology: It is a myth of fantasy through which is generated by psychological rather than utilitarian needs and can be studied as a historical and artistic phenomenon."
Do you agree with this statement?

Riichi Miyake

The villa, in architectural terminology, is very Latin but if you translate it into other civilization groups, I think there is a counterpart in Iran and we have it in Japan; in ancient terminology it is  “MIYA” as imperial residences and “RIKYU”, detached miya in rather modern terminology.

Villa culture is not studied individually but we have to find it in multiple methodologies and compare it to the west we have the same phenomenon and aesthetics in Japan. 

The word “Paradise” is coming from Persia and this kind of cultural interaction between nations in the past could make the phrase “villa” more multicultural.  

Amir Abbas

There are documents from the past, showing cultural interactions and exchanges between Japanese and Persian civilizations. Do you see any footprints of #Persiangardens (also known as #BAGHS) in Japanese art and architecture?

Riichi Miyake

Yes. There are Archaeological pieces of evidence of Iranian presence in Japan in the 6th and 7th centuries. Iranian were invited to collaborate with the Japanese imperial  court. I think they had an important facility or a kind of technology to work with stone material, stone fountains, and water channels for entertainment which was related to the Iranian gardens or #Baghs.
I think at that time there was a direct interaction between Iran and Japan and later on the 8th and 9th centuries they expanded their relations.

Amir Abbas

and how about Iranian literature?

Riichi Miyake

I think Iranian music came before Iranian literature in Japan,
Iranian music and musical instruments are still well preserved in our country.

It is also said that the “fire and water festival” came from Persian culture. Please notice that various cultures of the continent arrived at Japan through what we call “Silk Road”.

Amir Abbas

The repertory of the benefits of villa life echoes down the millennia:  relaxation, recreation, conversation, health (mentally/ physically / spiritually), and inserting a domestic life into an imaginary life. Estates such as “Kushk”, ”Emarat”, “Garden House”, “Munya”, and “Kakh”, have similar benefits in eastern life.

How is villa life in Japan?

Riichi Miyake

Looking back to ancient Japan we can find similar benefits. My name is Miya + Ke and “Ya” means “house” in ancient Japanese. “Mi” is a suffix for adding nobility so that “MIYA” would become a noble residence for a special person. “Miyake” is an imperial manor in countryside.  that could actualize that imaginary life and its benefits.

Amir Abbas

A house tends to be simple in structure and to conserve ancient forms that do not require the invention of a designer, while the villa is typically the product of an
architect’s imagination and asserts its modernity.

Considering the above quotation, do we need architects for housing?

Riichi Miyake

A classical question concerns the role of architects, nowadays the role of architects is completely changed. It is not limited to decoration or something like that but reading the situation, reading the need of people, working with the material, and then an architect has to coordinate the space is his/her mission to work for both types.    

Amir Abbas

can villas be regarded as experimental houses that allow architects to study a technical or functional aspect in concrete terms or to develop spatial ideas?

Riichi Miyake

Important is to ask: is it necessary to do it or not?  Whether it is a villa or a house!

Amir Abbas

many architects view these buildings (villas) not only as a residence but as testing grounds for new ideas or the crystallization of concepts and theories.

Riichi Miyake

If we refer to Japanese architecture, Japanese architects since 1920, used housing typology as experimental projects to present their ideas and inventions. Only a few Japanese architects in 1950-60 used villa type for this purpose. For us, the villa is a European phrase.

Amir Abbas

Common among ancient writings, the villa enjoys from the natural setting’s restorative powers (otium) in opposition to the excesses of city life (negotium).

Do you face such a dilemma in Japan?

Riichi Miyake

To fulfill this need there are two types of buildings in Japan; A palace type similar to the villa type and also “teahouses (CHASHITSU)” which as a revolution suddenly started in the 16th century in Japan. Teahouses were spaces for experiencing the body, soul, and human interactions. very miniaturized space among natural elements. Small but extraordinary.

Amir Abbas

According to Michael Rotondi’s introduction, You have a unique point of view of the different cultures. You have also presented some ideas about Japanese architecture, focusing on postwar housing.

Despite the very bright practices of modern architecture in the Pahlavi period suddenly the Islamic revolution happened and we came to war for 8 years and still we are under the most severe sanctions and a state of isolation ever!

How do you see the Contemporary architecture of Iran before and after the revolution in terms of buildings’ spatial quality, public spaces, and modern know-how?

Riichi Miyake

The Iranian rich heritage has always been admired by Japanese visitors throughout history and also contemporary periods.

Amir Abbas

What is your advice, suggestions, or comment on the new generation of Iranian architects?

Riichi Miyake

First, experience the space. You don’t have to wait for it to come so go and catch it in many inspiring amazing resources inside your country. Then start to create the space in your own manner.
Mr. Arata Isozaki and Mr. Tado Ando were so much inspired by Iranian architecture.

Amir Abbas

Do you see any reflection of Iranian traditional approaches in Tehran?

Riichi Miyake

No comments! Tehran is a very big city and I feel as if in the middle of nowhere except the very centre.

 

 

Amir Abbas

Thank you so much. I enjoyed the time we spent discussing today and am excited to learn more about pioneer Japanese architects and experimental houses in Japan who are trying to develop an “architectural dialect” and a “contemporary manifestation”.

 

Conversation with Riichi Miyake
Villa ideology / Villa Typology
14/07/2022
Villa Magazine Office, Tehran 2022