A Portable Sanctuary based on Wa-Kei-Sei-Jaku
This project reinterprets the Japanese teahouse as a mobile, human-scale sanctuary designed for contemporary life. Rather than being limited to tea ceremony, the space is open to anyone and any quiet act: reading, thinking, creating, resting. By stepping inside, users are gently invited to disconnect from devices and social roles, and return to direct sensory experience. The underlying concept is Wa-Kei-Sei-Jaku—harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility—translated not as tradition, but as a universal framework for human interaction, self-reflection and awareness of surroundings.
Historically, the teahouse functioned as a place where status and weapons were left outside. This mobile version operates as a modern “urban hermitage,” enabling equal dialogue between individuals, or a deeper dialogue with oneself, within everyday environments.
Constructed from locally sourced thinning wood, the structure contributes to sustainable forest cycles and regional economies. At the same time, it creates new demand for the craftsmanship of Japanese master carpenters, connecting 1,400 years of wooden architecture to contemporary mobility and global contexts.
Rather than preserving culture as an artifact, this project positions tradition as a living system—designed to circulate, adapt, and remain relevant in a rapidly accelerating world.
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