White Temple
Kyoto, Japan
Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

Contrast defines this temple of subtle vision and modest dimensions

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Assoc.

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By Naomi R. Pollock, AIA

White Temple, the recent addition to Zuisen-ji, a Buddhist temple compound on the outskirts of Kyoto, hardly blends in with the scenery. The rectangular, concrete box amid a sea of black gravel contrasts dramatically with the existing main hall, monks' quarters, and belfry—all timber post-and-beam structures capped by swooping tile roofs. Not to mention the mountains in the distance and Lake Tsutenko nearby. Though modern looking, White Temple has the hallmarks of its historic antecedents: a form that underscores the setting's natural beauty, a sequence of spaces tailored to a particular ritual, and a sanctuary that invites contemplation.

An austere, one-room chapel used exclusively for memorial services, the 32,000-square-foot White Temple is divided into two halves: one for mourners and one for mortuary tablets inscribed with the names of the deceased. A smooth marble slab floating above the ground and jutting out from the building draws visitors in. It leads first to the seating area for family members, designated by straw tatami mats set into the floor, followed by another marble-floored area for monks conducting the service.

The second half of the room is dominated by a massive stepped platform where the memorial tablets are placed during the ritual. Intended to draw the gaze upward, the stepped platform hovers slightly above the floor and culminates in a modest altar where a Buddha figure stands, illuminated from behind in the traditional manner of gokou, the painted, golden halo accompanying many Buddha statues.

Though largely eclipsed by the stepped platform, the rear window echoes the generous front entrance. A pair of narrow frosted-glass skylights running down either side of the building spans the distance between these two openings. Small fixtures tucked beneath the base of the stepped platform supply additional light for evening services. The building's dominant axis and strong sequence of spaces symbolize the progression from this world to the next. But these linear qualities are balanced by the womblike interior's stillness and suspension of outside concerns that come from encasing it with walls almost a foot thick and filling it with muted light. Yamaguchi's intention was to recreate the atmosphere of a Zen meditation garden within the sanctuary.

See the October 2001 issue of Architectural Record for full coverage of this project.

Formal name of Project:
White Temple

Location:
Kyoto, Japan

Size:
800 sq. ft..

Owner:
Zuisen-ji Temple

Architect's firm:
Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates
Fusui Bldg.1-3-4 Ebisu-nishi Naniwa-ku
Osaka 5560003 Japan
Phone : +81(0)6 6633 3775
Fax : +81(0)6 6633 5175
www.yamaguchi-a.jp