In this anthropocene world built by humans we architects play a big role
in shaping its architecture unlike nature. If we try to zoom in we can see
that architects are designing not just in their home countries but also all
around the world i.e. globally. One of the examples of this influence of
regional architecture in the context of Switzerland is from Japan.
This paper will base its focus in Biel in the context of Switzerland by
elaborating on the idea of critical regionalism advocated by Kenneth
Frampton. Critical regionalism is not simply regionalism in the sense of
vernacular architecture. It is a progressive approach to design that seeks
to mediate between the global and the local languages of architecture. So,
this paper will zoom into and analyze how concepts of Japanese architecture,
history, culture and identity are reflected in contemporary architecture
and mainly in the city of Biel. In the process it also tries to find a
balance between essence of Japanese architecture(global) and foreign
culture(local). It will try to revitalize the identity of people, place and
architecture.
This research uses the methodology of case studies of contemporary
buildings by Japanese architects in Europe and uses a dialectic approach
to interpret the influence of Japanese architectural essence, qualities,
concepts,... and develop its relationship with the context of Biel thus
clarifying the use of these characters and regionality in architectural
design.
All this theorectical research is further illustrated into the diagrams for
better understanding and simplifying the design concept to propose a
new housing project that is mixed with all the above mentioned characteristic
and regionality of Biel thus giving the proposal a new spatial
identity, spatial connectivity and realtionship.