Projeto Japan House São Paulo - Kayabuki - 14ᵃ Bienal Internacional de Arquitetura de São Paulo

Project development: Brazil

IKUYA SAGARA, KUSAKANMURI
生まれながらにして、還るところが約束されている
From birth there is a promised place to which one must return
construction of reed, bamboo and sisal rope

Ikuya Sagara (1980) was born in Kōbe, Hyogo Prefecture, where he lives and works. Sagara is a craftsman of kayabuki (traditional Japanese thatched roofs), and his work consists of making, preserving, teaching, and promoting the art of thatched construction.

There are records of this type of roofing described in the two oldest books on Japanese history, the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, both compiled in the 8th century, demonstrating its long history. In the 1960s, more than 5 million buildings using thatch were recorded in Japan. However, by 2010, this number had dropped to 100,000, a warning of changes in construction methods and the use of other materials, such as metal. The decline in this type of construction makes it difficult to perpetuate a traditional technique. With less demand, artisans' work becomes scarce, as does the interest of young people in learning the craft, impacting a cultural and social chain.

The region where Sagara lives preserves 700 examples of these traditional roofs, which motivates him to maintain his work while also seeking ways to promote and explore the potential of these plants and their benefits. These roofs ensure great thermal comfort, with good sunlight and ventilation; they are water-resistant; they can be made from raw materials that are currently available or typical of a given location; and all the elements that make up their structure are biodegradable: straw, bamboo, and rope. Traditionally, rice is prevalent in these constructions, as its history is tied to the development of Japanese culture, and it also serves as an example of the maximized use of a resource: its straw, husk, and bran have various uses in crafts and industry, and the grain is used in spiritual ceremonies.

The construction presented here was developed specifically for the exhibition "Japanese Principles: Design and Resources," at Japan House São Paulo. The artisan drew inspiration from ancestral Japanese shelters and used reeds, a species grown in abundance in the São Paulo municipality of Registro, to minimize environmental impacts by utilizing readily available raw materials. He explores Japanese techniques and craftsmanship while reflecting on the need for responsible cycles. Observing the environment, he perceives how the experiences and needs of an individual or community can establish a sustainable relationship with nature, regenerating it to preserve it.

Participate in the program of debates, workshops and associated activities!

TODAY (10.10)

2:30 pm – table Risk-Free Periphery in the Context of Climate Change

4pm – table Knowing to Transform: Community Climate Risk Reduction and Adaptation Plans

6:30 pm – table Inclusive Adaptation: Nature-Based Solutions in the Peripheries

9am – Drawing Workshop: Oscar Niemeyer's Architecture in Ibirapuera Park and the Climate Challenge

IN THE NEXT DAYS (11 to 14.10)

ATTENTION the table Palmas: For 36 years, the ecological capital of Tocantins which would be held on 10/11 | 7pm was canceled.

11.10 and 12.10 | 9am – workshop Inventa(rio) Fronteiras: Playing for Multispecies Cities

11.10 | 10am – workshop Elémenterre teaching bag

11.10 | 11am – table Learning to inhabit the Anthropocene: the crisis of architecture

11.10 | 2pm – table Architecture for Learning and Civic Use

11.10 | 3pm – table Culture and Public Architecture

11.10 – 15h – workshop Elémenterre teaching bag

11.10 | 4pm – table Reconnecting with Nature & Circular Design

11.10 | 5pm – table Architecture of Belonging: Interpreting Heritage Through Place

12.10 | 10am – table Experience: Climate Refuges and Naturalized Public Spaces, with Eco-Neighborhood

12.10 | 10:30 am – table Childhoods and Climate: Climate Justice in Vulnerable Territories

12.10 | 10:30 am – Windsock Workshop with the Floating Collective

12.10 | 3pm – table Doing a lot with a little: architectures for a planet in transition with Esteban Benavides from Al Borde office

12.10 | 4:30 pm – table Earth – building a sustainable and democratic future

12.10 | 5:45 pm – table French presence at the Biennale and screening of the film AJAP – Albums of Young Architects and Landscape Architects

13.10 – activity Pantanal Action at IABsp

10/14 | 10am – table Urgent Panorama! Space as an act of permanence

14.10 | 6pm – Launch of the “Nature-Based Education” Guide

JOIN! IT'S ALL FREE!

And there's much more until October 19th!

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.

Japan House Project São Paulo – Kayabuki

Ikuya Sagara, Kusakanmuri