Gotta especially applaud the cinematographer for masterfully framing shots that really both compliments the narration and also showcasing the architecture in a way any regular visitor would not experience. It feels almost hyper realistic.
Can't say any regular visitor would NOT experience it though. You experienced it the way THEIR editor wanted you to. This video could be interpreted in a million different ways.
@@5ringsaudits Hi, I agree that editing and filming can change the nature of things sometimes. In this case, while filming I was there experiencing these places, and the way I edited the footage and pictures was an attempt to represent the emotions we felt while visiting these incredible places. There is a bit of creative license of course, but I did my best to closely represent the feeling of being there in a way that was at least authentic to us.
@@5ringsaudits there are differences of how our eyes and brain see things compared to a camera and although I agree that editing is a big part of audiovisual media, it is not what I am talking about at this instance. There's a saying: "Films are made 3 times. In the writing room, in the set, and in the editing room". But regardless, you cannot edit shots that were not made. That's why during production of most movies, there are usually 4+ hours worth of usable footage. Most people experience world from the height of their head while walking, standing or sitting. We cannon switch our biological lenses to adjust focal lengths to see in wide-angle or telephoto nor do we have discrete borders around our vision to frame our view. Our muscles have not evolved to make perfectly smooth linear movements, our eyes can't even pan smoothly unless focused on a moving object. Of course you can recreate the experience personally if you follow the shots made in this video, but that means you have to intentionally use your eyes like a camera lense. That's simply not how an average person (non photography/cinematography person) experiences the world. I'm considering the camera placement in space and its movement, focal lengths of the lenses used, the composition of the shots that thoughtfully use shapes of the building, lighting, and shadows, etc... You cannot manipulate those in post-production, and your average human visitor won't be able to recreate the same experience. That's where the shots are curated and stiched together, pacing is created, colours are adjusted, and overall storytelling is finalised. While that is also important, it is not the focus of my praise. The purpose of filmmaking is capturing and curating the experience to evoke specific emotions and convey specific messages. If a video can be interpreted million different ways, that's just poor filmmaking. Sure, 3 or 5 people may experience nuances of a movie differently but the general storytelling should stay the same. If something is interpreted more than 100 different ways, that's just called being vague or confused.
I was going to comment something along those lines. It feels like someone sat down and thought "how can we revolutionize the video presentation of Japan for the 'intellectual tourist'". It's kind of an art piece in many places. Edit: It helps that you look im-freakin'-peccable in every shot. Either you jad one hell of a stylist pick out the wardrobe, or you are just dripping style. Sorry if I gush, but I feel that a lot of modern visual media forgets to really push the "visual" part, and this was refreshing. As your work typically is.
Truly stunning. An outstanding job. The cinematography (which happens to be part of my discipline as a filmmaker) is stunning. It always helps to have magnificent settings but talent and skill fascinate and thrill us based on how the cinematographer frames it. Thank you.
I live in Eastern Europe and we visited abandoned apartment blocks, huge concrete structures full of rusting metal, broken glass, garbage, and among them plants growing everywhere, literally a 5-story meadow, everything was covered with moss, grass and small trees, in the empty apartments we could hear the echo of dripping water and in the basement there was a meter of water in the basement. Water Frog Vein is a truly wonderful place in the middle of the forest
Whenever a new video from Dami shows up on my feed, I get so happy. It's like sitting down for coffee with a good friend who proceeds to share with you all the amazing impressions they've gotten while being in the world. They are always so fun, informative, and aesthetically gorgeous. Keep em coming!
I agree but her videos are just too short! Like this is only 15 minutes. She could have had an hours long several part documentary over all the places she visited. And she could have and should have gone farther into depth over the history and influences. I definitely enjoy her channel and I think she has some interesting ideas. I just don't think she has enough to say about these ideas. She basically only ever has time to go over the very basics before that's it the 15-minute video is up and she never goes back. Idk if shes holding herself back because she thinks people only have the attention span to sit through 15 minutes, or if it's because she has nothing more to say. But either way I always feel like she scratches the surface of something interesting and then just moves on like a butterfly. Flitting from idea to idea never saying on one long enough to actually say something meaningful unfortunately.
One of the most profound experiences of my life happened during a study abroad trip to Turkey when I was in college. We were touring the country during Ramadan, and by an accident of our itinerary, we were scheduled to visit the Green Mosque in Bursa just before the midday prayers on a Friday. We were running a bit late, so we had to wait outside until the formal prayer service had ended, and then we were allowed inside. The building, for all its heavy chandeliers and gilded mosaics and bright tiles, was nevertheless dimmed, as though filled with some unseeable presense that was dampening the light. There were still a handful of worshipers praying, so rather than a formal tour, we simply walked through the building, slowly and silently., so as not to disturb anyone. After a minute or two, I began to feel lightened, like there was a cushion of air between my feet and the carpeted floor, and the building itself-the domed ceilings, the thick columns-seemed to hug me in a gentle embrace as I quietly moved through the space. Yet I also felt charged, as though the air were filled with static electricity. And, at times, I forgot to breathe. It was one of the first times I'd experienced a true sense of awe, and beyond that, it's difficult to describe the emotions I experienced as I drifted from room to room in the building. After several minutes, I crossed paths with my English professor; she was agape, gazing slowly around the space, often with her eyes directed upward at the curving ceilings. When her gaze fell on me, she broke into something like a surprised, confused smile, and she said, "Do you feel that?" I said, "You, too?" And she said, simply, "Wow." And that's all either of us needed to say.
I might write more about it when the time is right. I visited Teshima Art Museum in June. It was the first time that a human made structure, somewhat devoid of a special relation to a specific event, made me tear up. Its beauty is true BEAUTY that speaks truth. It just pierces your soul in way that are not easy to describe. You feel a love, a peace, a sadness, a sense of oneness with everyone and everything but still feel the isolation. Its time without time. It was almost like you became the building or were enveloped by it with anyone else in it. The most touching built structure I ever stepped shoeless foot in.
Artists like Edward Hopper do a great job showing how beautiful shadows can be. I love his painting "Sun in an Empty Room" because it takes something as boring as a literal empty room and makes art out of just some lines and shading. Seeing a room and being inspired like that is what the best architecture is about.
A place that stuck in my mind was a abandonment industrial gas storage place at our city. We call those structures gasometer's in Germany. They are gigantic structures 100m high with several sliding rings and a dome on top of it. Depending on the amount of stored gas the top part rise or falls and everything is held in place with steal beams and struts around it. The top part was dissembled at our city so all rings are on the ground surrounded by those 100m high steal beam and struts construction. It is now used as a theatre or for art installations. Standing in the middle of the rings is breathtaking the shadows in summer are beautiful. It is so quiet in there you can hear your footsteps and birds echoing although it is located directly to a busy road.
The Gasometer in Pforzheim hosts changing exhibitions by Artist Yadegar Asisi, who creates monumental 360° panoramic images especially for this site (and others for other similar sites) which allow the visitor to immerse into a whole different place. Inside the Gasometer in the middle of the image is a three level platform which allows you to see it from different perspectives and though its the same image, it looks different and reveals new details at every level. Currently the exhibition features the antique city of Pergamon in ancient Greece (today Turkey) and it was an architectoral marvel in itself. There were images of Rome and a coral reef and the Himalaya before.
Yep, experiences aside big machinery felt somehow like that but work also once brought me to an old hotel in the mountains with wooden floor and big windows. The cracking sound of each step was memorable and every window panel or door had weight. It was not hard to move them, but you needed effort. It felt like I was, with 6 ft height, too small for the building, as the kid visiting the bears house.
I am also an architect, and I have visited the architectural landmarks mentioned in the video. I share the same sentiments and emotions. Thank you for capturing it all.
I've always thought architecture was cool, but your videos have gotten me really excited about it. Your videos are always so fascinating and educational. Crafted with such love and detail. So thankful for these videos. You, and your team, are so pro.
It was mid-December 2019, I visited Yellowestone National Park for the first time. It was cold, covered with snow, and partly cloudy skies. I remember the view of the mountain and forest, nearly untouched by human development and a serene silence. Our tour group drove up the mountain to look at wildlife at this time. The mountain was steaming from the volcanic activity happening below the earth. Our tour guide stopped and asked us to be silent for a moment to listen to the mountain and you could hear a low roar coming from it. It was an experience that made me feel small, it was a humbling feeling.
I think this is your best video to date! A couple of places that come to mind for experiencing senses other than sight. The first is an orchestral hall. There are obvious acoustic characteristics of spaces like this like short reverb time and sound attenuation, but what I always recall is more personal comfort in the way of temperature and airflow than sound. I remember talking with the project PA when we were designing it about how for a concert hall you want high-volume, low-velocity air. Since that day I always consciously perceive the very subtle airflow when the HVAC kicks on. The other place - loosely using that word here - is being in a hot air balloon. The most dramatic thing I recall about that experience is the quietness of being in the air. You don't hear cars or people or animals or really even the wind. It's just silent, and peaceful. Keep up the amazing work!
This was extremely moving and inspiring for me. I think having been raised in NYC created an affinity for the Japanese design and culture as a relief from the chaotic baseline experience I had growing up. Your work is very appreciated.
Girl, your videos are incredible. I just found your channel from a suggested video on my feed. Now I am obsessed with watching your videos! You're awesome
I think about the Frank Loyd Wright, Allen Lamb house a lot. (probably because it's the only one I've actually been too. It's simultaneously super cozy and super open. It's crazy old but they could open an entire wall to the back garden. There's just something charming about it that I could never put my finger on and despite being so old, it still feels like a modern home.
Maybe it’s because this video is set in Japan that it’s primed my brain for my experiences there… But also I feel like Japan is where I first truly appreciated the effect environment can have on our mind and emotions. Maybe because there is so much intention put into design, the legacy of animism, or the stark contrasts one can experience within a short amount of time. On my last few days in Tokyo I was tired of it and was planning on making that my last Trip to Japan. Tokyo specifically was so grey, so loud, so busy. I never wanted to go back, just wanted to be done with the country. I ended up spending my last hours there at the Aoyama Flower Market. A cafe/teahouse/flower shop tucked away in the big city. The moment I entered I felt like I wasn’t in Tokyo anymore. It was warm and colorful and somehow comfortably quiet without being a space that demanded the use of whispering. It wasn’t cottage core, it had plenty of modern elements, but focused heavily on emphasizing the elegant beauty of nature. It was the first place in Tokyo I felt comfortable, and allowed me time to reflect on the other times during that trip that evoked a similar sense of tranquility. That it was Tokyo that left me feeling exhausted and alone. But in Kyoto, Osaka, and Bunny Island I had felt connected to the spaces and my companions. It was the first place I ever was able to bookmark in my head as a designated “happy place” I plan on going back to Japan with my family in 2025, and will def be checking out some of the places on your list. ❤ thank you
Mainly sticking to Tokyo is a common mistake tourists make when they come to Japan. Tokyo is just a city, no different than any other in the world. Maybe if you've never seen a big city before, this is exciting...? But the real Japan is outside the cities, out in nature.
For me above all other places I visited are the great pyramids of giza. I was fascinated by them since I was a little child and when I finally had the opportunity to visit them my expectations where as high as they get. But the real experience was topping even my wildest hopes. You really have to see them for yourself to understand. These structures are so mind shattering perfect that I just could not comprehend them. The longer I looked at them the more beautiful they get and I actually had to look away from time to time, because I could not handle the beauty anymore. My positive emotions where just overwhelming me. These structures are beyond perfection and before I experienced them myself I did not think that something like this was possible on our planet.
My first experience with appreciating the subtle expressions of the lights and shadows through the walls and corners are from the Brunei and Taiwan airports. I was really, really young back then that loves to roam around and at one point, I honestly don't know what I'm experiencing but I am suddenly mesmerized by how the lights and shadows plays around the place like it's giving this sense of character for the whole airport, as if I'm discovering something that I do not fully understand yet. To this day I am honestly thankful for these experiences as I am more appreciative of the architectures and buildings that intentionally includes the fundamentals of lights / shadows as part of the overall design experience.
Your passion and thoughtfulness regarding your experiences and architectural influence is awesome!!! Thank you for sharing and educating. Positive thoughts for you and those close to you.
I’ve been in Japan some years ago and within all the places I visited, my memories meet together in the moment I was at Odaiba beach. I don’t know why, but that place hit me in a different way than all the energetic and calming ones in Japan. The light of the sunset, the sea, the light noise from the people walking around and on the horizon all the huge buildings and bridges. Thinking about the millions of people were there and what they were doing and me just there on a beach, like a viewer from far away watching what seemed like a painting in constant movement.
I also had the pleasure of recently visiting Japan in November. By far the most ethereal experience for me was taking a cycle ride around Lake Kawaguchiko. This was on the last day of our 12 days in Japan. It was a cloudy day and we had just wrapped up the famous Chureita Pagoda at Shimoyoshida and we headed into the town. This was a day drip from Tokyo, so we only had a couple of hours. And to our luck, we spotted a bicycle renting shop and rented them immediately. What followed was 3 hours of absolute Autumn magic. You're absolutely right about the perfect amalgamation of the old and the new in Japan. It is so evident in Kyoto and even in smaller towns like Arashiyama or Kawaguchiko. The rustling of Momiji trees filling the air with autumn leaves with the mighty Fuji-san 🗻 in the backdrop is an experience I will never forget. Going further, we rode around the lake into small paths that felt untouched. Winds creating patterns on the lake, the sight of the mighty mountain all along, the multitude of red/orange/brown/yellow autumn foliage, the breath of the cleanest air. And to top it all-off, the clouds cleared and we got the most magnificent, undisturbed view of Mount Fuji for a good hour. The Autumn dreamscape, the gargantuan grandeur, the perfect end to our Japan trip. I just took a moment to take it all in. Japan will surprise you beyond your wildest imagination! I can't wait to be back. 🇯🇵
I'm in love with this channel. I love the generosity of the creators (not only do we get the amazing episode, but also additional information, such as the PDF mentioned at the end) - I really feel that the channel is born out of true passion for architecture and desire to share the knowledge and make it accessible to us, non specialists - a truly social projet, which I applaud. The quality of the material and story telling is outstanding (interesting also to note the growth over the past few years). I cannot imagine the amount of resources invested into this and I, as a spectator, really feel appreciated and loved, because of how thoughtful you guys are in every detail. Thank you so much for your amazing work ❤
Another very well done video, thank you Dami and team. The place that sticks in my mind was when I was working in Hong Kong. At night time just between Admiralty and Central on the Pedestrian foot bridges, this place that's booming in activities and people in the morning became eerily calm and quiet at night, as if time just stood still. The contrasts between daytime and nighttime exist in most downtowns of big cities, but in there there's a sensation that you felt the city can't wait to come back to life, but the darkness just suppressed it down. It's quiet remarkable and soothing, especially for those who's been through a stressful day of work.
the production is amazing, really like ur video. I don't know why but I feel moved by watching cinematography and Japanese architectural works on this video. I hope u make another video about japanese architecture
Dami and her crew knocked it out of the park with this video. She should pitch this as a travel show. Like a food travel show but for design and architecture. Thank you for the travel guide!
It's kinda rare to cross videos which reach the same level of craft as the content they show. This and all your videos are keeping my attention fully glued to them for how gorgeously filmed, describe, picked analyzed they are. Please keep doing them!
It’s funny, I was just on Awaji Island for a family vacation in the summer, and I also did the Ado Tadao architecture tour. But I wish I’d seen this video BEFORE my trip - I might have appreciated it even more! I personally really wanted to visit Zenbo Seinei as well, but it’s not really a traveling-with-kids kind of place. Spectacular, though. Anyway, great video! And for any potential Japan travellers out there, I do really recommend Awaji Shima as a destination. (As I’ve discussed in a recent video of my own.) Thanks for the enlightening content!
One place that got stuck in my mind is the shadow under a small chestnut tree that grew in the garden of my grandparents’ house in the countryside, in Brazil. The branches and leaves of the tree grew like a dome, reaching to the ground beneath the trunk and touching it gently all around it. I remember having such chaotic feelings at that moment, and for some minutes I decided to settle down and sit under that dome. I felt the dry leaves and the remains of the open chestnuts that the squirrels ate under my skin, reminding me of the presence of the ground. It was itchy, rough, unsettling, but also extremely kind. It felt like that place and that tree were trying to make sure that I wouldn’t forget that I was there, sitting, feeling all those sensations. In the end, I was calmer, not completely still or connected, but certainly lighter at heart, like a blessing.
Your video series is so deeply engaging and intelligent! I love the way you grasp, interpret, and articulate the architect’s vision for those of us who are not architects. Your work is very valuable and deeply appreciated!
I can feel what you’re describing. This is as much a mind set as the immersion itself. I experience this when I go to nature or when I’m in a city. Honestly though the only cities where I enjoy it, are the ones who are in decline. There’s a certain natural beauty when nature starts to reclaim the sterile structures. When you pause in silence and use all your senses, the world vibrates with waves that remind you that you are a part of the universal song. 🥰
love the way you present your videos, diving into deep research on unique concepts and going over feasibility. the algorithm brought me to you today and i found myself binge watching your vids and subscribing, keep up the great content!
One place that stays with me and calls to me when I’m far away and calls even louder when I’m nearby is Tadao Ando’s The Modern in Fort Worth. A place where rough concrete has been polished so smooth you can see your reflection in it. A place with seemingly not a right angle to be seen yet full of familiar shapes. A other world type place that still steps aside for you to experience and feel the art contained within its walls and its grounds.
one of the most magical experiences I've had that resonates greatly with the feelings of tranquility explored through this video would be my time in Arashiyama. I've never felt so close to nature and taking a traditional boat ride down the river slowed down time for me. It gave me the time to appreciate the surrounding greenery, the people of that area, but most importantly this experience left in me a strong feeling of collected satisfaction. (also there was a monkey park and they were funny hehe)
I live in Singapore, so I have an idea of Asian architecture. Here, it's quite boring but lively, the architecture is for the people and doesn't make you think about it much, I guess. When I was in Hong Kong though, architecture was the only thing I could think about lol.
HK is depressing, with giant concrete buildings as far as the eye can see. I didn't go out of my way looking for interesting architecture though. I overwhelmed by the number of people and noise and density.
One funny thing about the light in Japan was that it actually made me feel really sick each day when the sun started to set because I was from Australia and growing up 'down under' gave me the worst jet lag when the sun started setting because all the shadows were wrong! Luckly it disappeared soon after the sun set and meant that I ended up spending hours wandering around the streets near my hotel and getting lost in the beauty and peace in the middle of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. The highlights were staying in a teahouse in the middle of Geon, Kyoto and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park under a full moon with nobody around and wandering the paths to discover the memorials to the children and lives lost. There was a profound sense not only of sadness and the most dark deeds done by humanity, but also a tribute to how the people of Hiroshima and Japan had survived in seeing a man taking his dog for a walk past a night cafe. I have so many memories and photos of the beautiful interplay of light, darkness, peace and chaos from that trip to Japan and highly reccomend visiting some of the more popular tourist sights at night next time you visit.
I felt very similarly, but due to different reasons, of some late 1800s/early1900s buildings in Buenos Aires; particularly the Palacio Barolo. On the outside, it has progressions of balconies, cornices, and stonework that echo the billowing of clouds, but with a Romanesque revival aesthetic. However, what really got to me, was that the building was designed to emulate the path a soul takes to heaven via purgatory, in that one cannot go directly to heaven (observation deck) but must first, by design, scale the building using a series of different elevators and landings, which was to signify the purification of the soul as it rises to heaven. Then you add the western ( particularly Italian) tendency to decorate with allegories and metaphors, and it soon became a transcendental experience. It’s magical when architecture goes from merely the consequence of the hand of man, to the materialized spirit of what guided that man’s hand.
Beautiful description and appreciation. Love listening to you describe the feel of the grass and wood and sounds slowly happening. I remember the curve of the landscape outside the Pablo Picasso museum near Hakone Japan. It was a very blue sky day. Green grass. Carefully placed trees made me walk not run.The play space there was cosy with curved walls but felt elevated and inviting for all ages. I was 17 when I visited.
Hi Dami, you most certainly did a brilliant job of relaying to us the essence of what the place you visited feels like. For some of us, this video would be the closest we would ever get to be at such places. Thank you for taking us to such amazing places, and teaching us how to fully appreciate it.
This is my first comment after watching many of your channel's videos for some time. I have told members of my extended family about your channel and just the things I have learned from it. Thank you. Having said that....Walking using the ball of your feet first!?...if NYC residents knew this technique Lmao, guaranteed it would become a nicer place to live!!. Thanks again!.
Great video Dami. There is this place Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India. two mountains. vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. Please visit and find the deep shadows in those old temples.
I love the channel and this video. I agree the team did a great job filming it and the scripting is terrific. I feel like I'm back in the back in my introductory Art class that brought topics like this to the new college students, but at the time, it wasn't in this small college lecture hall but it was brought to us in old style movie theater with the Art Professor bringing lectures and showing on a huge screen. However, his quality of projection wasn't as dazzling as your team's incredible work. It's a great visual and audio projection that makes us feel like we're following Dani on a near virtual tour of her trip. I wish I wasn't a senior and a non-traveler that I could visit such places but the team's work is a great near replication of being there. Mahalo for the presentation.
I always look forward to your videos. I always learn something new! In the past few years I've gained an appreciation for Brutalist architecture and I especially like how light and shadow contrast in these spaces-so I really enjoyed the bit on the Sayamaike museum and the work of Tadao Ando.
wow. i could listen to you for hours straight talking about space, light, mass and your perception of those. that's rare for me. thank you. amazing bit.
We live in Sapporo and twenty-eight years ago we got married in Tadao Ando's Chapel on the Water at Tomomu ski resort. It is a concrete bunker with wooden pews and the wall behind the altar opens onto a pond in the forest. It is sublime and was a special experience to be married there.
15 Years ago my wife and I were also married at the Church on the Water. I first noticed the building in a book when it was first built while I was an art director living in Miami and it moved me to the point of almost quitting my job to study architecture. After meeting my wife who is Japanese, I suggested we have our wedding at Ando's church. We had no idea where it was located but we finally ended up in Hokkaido and had a wonderful ceremony. Now we live in Tokyo and enjoy our Japanese life.
Thank You for taking Me back to Japan & Architecture . In 2006 I was lucky to meet Tadao Ando while touring in his Church of Light, and to sit with Shin Takamatsu at his table to talk and draw with his purple pencils. Both Men and their architecture had inspired me to study design and architecture. I was also impressed with the Miho Museum in Shigaraki by I.M.Pei. Following a path, discovering a viewpoint, control of light, volume, sound, temp, air flow, detail, pattern, repetition (much like Frank Lloyd Wright)… Similar as your experiences and analysis, these places awaken your senses.❤
I am really glad the I found your channel a few years ago (when I was still in uni 😅). I’m just about to start a new chapter of my life as a Junior Architect, and I must say that your videos inspire me so much. I haven’t had the chance to visit many places yet, so thank you for adding a few to my list. Kudos to you and your team ❤
I think one of the most memorable places I visited was the Valley of the Fallen in Spain. It's a basilica that was carved into a mountain. It's supposed to be a commemoration to those who fell in the Spanish civil war but was actually more so a monument the dictator of the time, Francisco Franco, made for himself. Despite the dubious origins, it's quite lovely. I was lucky enough to see it during a light snow and it was lovely ~ This is definetly a building that makes use of shadows to add to the grandness of it's architecture. It's really hard to describe. Then there's Notre Dame in France which makes used of light coming in through stained glass. I saw it over a decade ago, long before the fire, so I can't speak on how it looks now but I remember loving the low amount of light that was used within the building and being amazed at the stained glass works that were really the main draw for me. Sure the rest of the cathedrial is fancinating with its architecture and majesty but the strained glass windows will live forever with me. Aside from the light coming in through the stained windows, there was only mimimal candlelight illuminating the gothic structure. This low light helped add to the naturally quiet atmosphere.
Hi!, I am loving this channel and your analysis of all the structures and environments and MOOD, yes mood of buildings and structures. I like to consider myself an artist, a builder, a person. This is my first comment on any of your vids and I just want you all to know that this channel and these vids are very inspirational and informative. I would like one day to move from hobbyist or armature artist to achieving more. I am here because one video in particular drew me in, and that was the "Solarpunk vs Cyberpunk" as our future. The basis of my art is writing, and I am scoping, analyzing, and experiencing through video the aesthetics and ambience of these videos and the philosophies behind them. As a struggling artist that fills my mundane existence with property maintenance tasks, I can't help but think of more. This channel and these ideas elevate my knowledge and understanding of architecture, aesthetics and and even lighting. These videos take us from being silent observers to active participants in our future, no matter how daunting that might seem.
Hand down, this is one of your best videos to date. This and the Kowloon Walled City video. They are like the two most extreme poles of architecture. One is pure Chaos, growing at its own unfathomable whim. The other is the (imo) definitive condensation of design, where every rock, every nail, every detail is meticulously planned, the distillation of Purpose. And both speak about true, living, breathing architecture.
This is a BEAUTIFUL video ^_^ The Japanese people definitely have a thing for attuning with nature nowadays in ways that many others don't. Just marvelous stuff.
"In Praise of Shadows" is such a fantastic book, but the way everything in daily life has changed since Tanizaki's time has made it hard to find the sort of atmosphere he described so beautifully. The closest I've found so far have been little, time-forgotten corners, like an old minshuku I stayed at on Mitake-san. Nothing about the place seemed to have changed in the last hundred years.
I really hope you visited the depth of Harajuku while there. If you go into the smalls streets inside the 4 quadrants of the neighbourghood you'll find one of the best Architecture areas of Tokyo. Away from the horribly Touristic street of Takeshita, The scale of the buildings is much lower than Tokyo usual skyline, and it's full of unique architecture buildings and intricate small streets, It was one of the highlight of my trip, I could give you some guidance for the next time if you didn't or even photos. (I took a ton of them) It is worth it trust me.
I'm obsessed with Japan and it's culture, I want to visit the old monuments and archaeological sites. I want to experience it's natural beauty, I want to touch it's grass and meditate near a pond. I want to learn martial arts I want to live a disciplined life. A life of focus and calmness. And a lot more , I just want to go there 😖🤩
My drafting table is the place that I see. It is built with pieces of discarded necessities of the past. There is a plant, very near. It's in a pot. Its shadows dance across a plain white wall as the light configuration dances over the table. The wood smells like incense and lemon oil. The ink spray has dried, like the shadow of a rain that will fall forever. The old classroom chair reminds me to doodle during class. It takes me there. The space is very small. There is no heat. The books are within reach. They are the reminder of community. The sunlight pours in during golden hour, but the space remains mostly dark somehow, even with the plain white walls. It is always welcoming. It's humble, and sometimes in the middle of the night, you will hear me laughing at the silliness that meets me there, there on my plain, white paper; amongst the plain white walls, and under the chior of lamps.
This really got me thinking how did the architects and artists were able to confidently say that their designs will be able to create such an atmospheric effect by precisely manipulating nature. It probably makes me appreciate and admire some of these Japanese architects in their vision and precision in creating a visually simplistic yet rich designs.
Another great video Dami. I love the Japanese culture, at least as much as I've learned over the years being an Anime addict. 🙂 I think I will have to visit the Tashima Art Museum some day. That must sound amazing. I must say that Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum entrance just looked to me a lot like Brutalism,... with extra steps. Ha-ha-ha 😁 Rick and Morty reference if you don't get it. Anyway, keep on doing what your doing Dami. Love your content.
Man this video was beautiful. Your attention to detail is impressive but I suppose that is essential and the nature of an architect. Your appreciation of the subtle nuances of the experience almost made me emotional. These kind of experiences and appreciation of the beauty of nature and design are, in my opinion, what make life worth living.
I am currently 42 and yet I cannot remember a single time that I have not wanted to visit or even move to Japan. Between the culture, architecture, landscape, and the people, it has always been on my bucket list. At this point, I have no idea if I will ever be able to move there, let alone visit. Videos like this stem my wants to a certain extent and then at the end, I am back to wanting to go with even more reasons to do so. Wonderful video, thank you.
I've never felt emotional because of architecture until this point.. I don't know how you've done it but I have a new perspective on architecture Thank you
I really love your videos! They're aesthetically the most pleasing I've ever seen and you also made me really more into architecture and design! Thank you!!
Uh, most classic Christian church architecture is based on a cross shape: nave, transept, chancel. You mention that unless you fly, a person won't be aware of it. But if you're used to that architecture, it's a given; it's mostly what communicates "you're in a church, act like it" to the parishioners. Admittedly, for an average Japanese sensibility this is probably not obvious, so the architect could play with it subtly.
I enjoy the pause, the space, the gap, your videos fill my days with. Thoughtful, gently paced, and explorative; allowing your audience, at least me, to more deeply connect with, and appreciate, the ideas you delve into. In a world filled with clamour and strife, your posts provide a moment free of it.
I love this so much. I mean all of your videos are like that but the focus here on Japanese attitude towards noticing, attention, shadow, precision makes we well up with so much excitement and motivation. It just feels like things you do and things you highlight are done thoroughly. They are crafted not with a goal of gain, through shortcuts, but with the goal of the thing itself and thus creating a whole galaxy of little details that can enrich. Thank you! & thank you to your team!
I was at the Teshima Art Museum this September and the experience was certainly unique, otherworldly, calming and inspiring. It's a curious museum but the concept works and it does give you a whole new perspective on the topic of art vs. nature; we felt it almost an ode to the natural world all around us. Fantastic video, thanks for creating this top-notch content
Here's another captivating video from DamiLee, which draws me into the profound sensations evoked by architectural design, particularly those from Eastern and Japanese styles. The scene featuring the 'monolithic concrete dome' delivered a transcendental experience, echoing the feelings one might have when actually present in such a setting.
I had exactly the same experience on Teshima. When I noticed the water moving across the surface, I think it was the first time I felt "magic" and "unknown" since I was a child. I could not stop thinking about it. It was understated and delightful.
I always look forward to your videos. I live in an area where Sayama Pond is located. I am very interested in earthquake-proof architecture. I think this earthquake is one of the factors behind the development of wooden architecture in Japan. Even the creaking sound of walking on the floor gives me peace of mind knowing that the building can withstand earthquakes. I'm looking forward to the next videos.
That's so interesting that you mention the Japanese walking softly ball-to-heel. I do that too and never really thought about why I do that. Well, I spent many years as a kid growing up in Japan (my dad was stationed at Yokota Air Base) and must have picked up the habit there. So cool! Thanks for sharing your trip and experiences at such beautiful destinations. There is something fundamentally deeply beautiful about a lot of Japanese architecture. Even as a kid, I couldn't explain why but I felt the impact of some of the beautiful places we visited. Of course, I was still a kid, and I distinctly remember touring a 1000+ year old temple and complaining about missing the Ninja Turtles. Definitely a place I'd love to see again with adult eyes. Thanks again!
This was beautiful. I learned about Tadao Ando in Art class but never thought about visiting his building or finding videos of them. But your video made his art come alive and now I really get what he created. Can't wait to see it for myself
Probably the most memorable experience when it comes to architecture for me was the first time, I was able to thoroughly analyze a series of historical houses in Metro Manila. These houses showcase a stunning range of architectural styles, from Moorish Revival and Neoclassical to Art Nouveau and Art Deco. I find these buildings incredibly inspiring because they beautifully blend European design principles with Filipino culture. They ingeniously incorporate local materials and adapt to the country's climate and specific needs.
I watched the video about an hour ago and it's taken me some time to parse it all. First off, as usual, you and your team have created an excellent film. The Cinematography told the story almost on its own, with your story there to bring depths and revelations to what we saw. You, yourself are amazing to watch. I could feel the wonder, the experience and even the stillness from you as you visited each place. Especially when you were at the meditation retreat. But what really struck me. What really gave location and gravity to a feeling that I've had for years was the Teshima Art Museum. I've long struggled with depression. On the harder days, I just wish that I could vanish from the noise of the world. That I could appear in a place that would just let me be. The whole segment in Teshima had me in tears because there it was. It existed. I could go there one day. I could now focus on that imagery and breathe and recenter. Thank you, Dami. Thank you to everyone at Nolli.
There was a place that was a large open meadow with a few cottonwood 0trees by a stream and mountains not too far in the distance. But it had a great vibe to it. It's the same vibe I get listening to Steve Miller's 'Wild Mountain Honey'. I can't remember when I was there, or why, or even what state it was in. One of the Rocky Mountain states, but I don't know which one, or exactly how old I was when I was there, but pretty young. And I wish I knew where it was, so I could go back there and see what it's like today.
Hi, I'm Japanese. I didn't know of Zenbo Seinei and Teshima Art Museum! I was born and raised in Tokyo, so I don't know much about things and stuff happening in the west part of Japan. Thanks for sharing! They are now in my bucket list.
Gotta especially applaud the cinematographer for masterfully framing shots that really both compliments the narration and also showcasing the architecture in a way any regular visitor would not experience. It feels almost hyper realistic.
Can't say any regular visitor would NOT experience it though. You experienced it the way THEIR editor wanted you to. This video could be interpreted in a million different ways.
@@5ringsaudits Hi, I agree that editing and filming can change the nature of things sometimes. In this case, while filming I was there experiencing these places, and the way I edited the footage and pictures was an attempt to represent the emotions we felt while visiting these incredible places. There is a bit of creative license of course, but I did my best to closely represent the feeling of being there in a way that was at least authentic to us.
@@5ringsaudits there are differences of how our eyes and brain see things compared to a camera and although I agree that editing is a big part of audiovisual media, it is not what I am talking about at this instance. There's a saying: "Films are made 3 times. In the writing room, in the set, and in the editing room". But regardless, you cannot edit shots that were not made. That's why during production of most movies, there are usually 4+ hours worth of usable footage.
Most people experience world from the height of their head while walking, standing or sitting. We cannon switch our biological lenses to adjust focal lengths to see in wide-angle or telephoto nor do we have discrete borders around our vision to frame our view. Our muscles have not evolved to make perfectly smooth linear movements, our eyes can't even pan smoothly unless focused on a moving object. Of course you can recreate the experience personally if you follow the shots made in this video, but that means you have to intentionally use your eyes like a camera lense. That's simply not how an average person (non photography/cinematography person) experiences the world.
I'm considering the camera placement in space and its movement, focal lengths of the lenses used, the composition of the shots that thoughtfully use shapes of the building, lighting, and shadows, etc... You cannot manipulate those in post-production, and your average human visitor won't be able to recreate the same experience.
That's where the shots are curated and stiched together, pacing is created, colours are adjusted, and overall storytelling is finalised. While that is also important, it is not the focus of my praise.
The purpose of filmmaking is capturing and curating the experience to evoke specific emotions and convey specific messages. If a video can be interpreted million different ways, that's just poor filmmaking. Sure, 3 or 5 people may experience nuances of a movie differently but the general storytelling should stay the same. If something is interpreted more than 100 different ways, that's just called being vague or confused.
Yes, the production value of these videos is amazing. Even if I wasn't already interested in the subject matter, they would draw me in.
I had a similar experience. Almost fell into the zen zone when she was explaining the Teshima Museum. WEll done!
The cinematography in this video is insane, amazing work and major kudos to everyone involved!
Thank you 🙏
I was going to comment something along those lines. It feels like someone sat down and thought "how can we revolutionize the video presentation of Japan for the 'intellectual tourist'". It's kind of an art piece in many places.
Edit: It helps that you look im-freakin'-peccable in every shot. Either you jad one hell of a stylist pick out the wardrobe, or you are just dripping style. Sorry if I gush, but I feel that a lot of modern visual media forgets to really push the "visual" part, and this was refreshing. As your work typically is.
you are fooled. its the spaces, not the cinematography
Funny I was wanting to comment how the shots were cut too fast. No time to look and watch 😢
Truly stunning. An outstanding job. The cinematography (which happens to be part of my discipline as a filmmaker) is stunning. It always helps to have magnificent settings but talent and skill fascinate and thrill us based on how the cinematographer frames it.
Thank you.
I live in Eastern Europe and we visited abandoned apartment blocks, huge concrete structures full of rusting metal, broken glass, garbage, and among them plants growing everywhere, literally a 5-story meadow, everything was covered with moss, grass and small trees, in the empty apartments we could hear the echo of dripping water and in the basement there was a meter of water in the basement. Water Frog Vein is a truly wonderful place in the middle of the forest
Thanks to you and your team for such a well put-together video.
Thank you so much!
💀
Whenever a new video from Dami shows up on my feed, I get so happy. It's like sitting down for coffee with a good friend who proceeds to share with you all the amazing impressions they've gotten while being in the world. They are always so fun, informative, and aesthetically gorgeous. Keep em coming!
Exactly have the same feeling whenever she releases new video.
I agree but her videos are just too short! Like this is only 15 minutes. She could have had an hours long several part documentary over all the places she visited. And she could have and should have gone farther into depth over the history and influences. I definitely enjoy her channel and I think she has some interesting ideas. I just don't think she has enough to say about these ideas. She basically only ever has time to go over the very basics before that's it the 15-minute video is up and she never goes back.
Idk if shes holding herself back because she thinks people only have the attention span to sit through 15 minutes, or if it's because she has nothing more to say. But either way I always feel like she scratches the surface of something interesting and then just moves on like a butterfly. Flitting from idea to idea never saying on one long enough to actually say something meaningful unfortunately.
I feel exactly the same.. those laid back conversations you tend to have with close friends
One of the most profound experiences of my life happened during a study abroad trip to Turkey when I was in college. We were touring the country during Ramadan, and by an accident of our itinerary, we were scheduled to visit the Green Mosque in Bursa just before the midday prayers on a Friday. We were running a bit late, so we had to wait outside until the formal prayer service had ended, and then we were allowed inside. The building, for all its heavy chandeliers and gilded mosaics and bright tiles, was nevertheless dimmed, as though filled with some unseeable presense that was dampening the light. There were still a handful of worshipers praying, so rather than a formal tour, we simply walked through the building, slowly and silently., so as not to disturb anyone. After a minute or two, I began to feel lightened, like there was a cushion of air between my feet and the carpeted floor, and the building itself-the domed ceilings, the thick columns-seemed to hug me in a gentle embrace as I quietly moved through the space. Yet I also felt charged, as though the air were filled with static electricity. And, at times, I forgot to breathe. It was one of the first times I'd experienced a true sense of awe, and beyond that, it's difficult to describe the emotions I experienced as I drifted from room to room in the building. After several minutes, I crossed paths with my English professor; she was agape, gazing slowly around the space, often with her eyes directed upward at the curving ceilings. When her gaze fell on me, she broke into something like a surprised, confused smile, and she said, "Do you feel that?" I said, "You, too?" And she said, simply, "Wow." And that's all either of us needed to say.
Thank you for sharing
This was so beautifully written.
@@barmhjertige1 I appreciate you saying so. 🙏
I might write more about it when the time is right.
I visited Teshima Art Museum in June.
It was the first time that a human made structure, somewhat devoid of a special relation to a specific event, made me tear up.
Its beauty is true BEAUTY that speaks truth.
It just pierces your soul in way that are not easy to describe.
You feel a love, a peace, a sadness, a sense of oneness with everyone and everything but still feel the isolation.
Its time without time.
It was almost like you became the building or were enveloped by it with anyone else in it.
The most touching built structure I ever stepped shoeless foot in.
Artists like Edward Hopper do a great job showing how beautiful shadows can be. I love his painting "Sun in an Empty Room" because it takes something as boring as a literal empty room and makes art out of just some lines and shading. Seeing a room and being inspired like that is what the best architecture is about.
A place that stuck in my mind was a abandonment industrial gas storage place at our city. We call those structures gasometer's in Germany. They are gigantic structures 100m high with several sliding rings and a dome on top of it. Depending on the amount of stored gas the top part rise or falls and everything is held in place with steal beams and struts around it. The top part was dissembled at our city so all rings are on the ground surrounded by those 100m high steal beam and struts construction. It is now used as a theatre or for art installations. Standing in the middle of the rings is breathtaking the shadows in summer are beautiful. It is so quiet in there you can hear your footsteps and birds echoing although it is located directly to a busy road.
The Gasometer in Pforzheim hosts changing exhibitions by Artist Yadegar Asisi, who creates monumental 360° panoramic images especially for this site (and others for other similar sites) which allow the visitor to immerse into a whole different place. Inside the Gasometer in the middle of the image is a three level platform which allows you to see it from different perspectives and though its the same image, it looks different and reveals new details at every level. Currently the exhibition features the antique city of Pergamon in ancient Greece (today Turkey) and it was an architectoral marvel in itself. There were images of Rome and a coral reef and the Himalaya before.
Yep, experiences aside big machinery felt somehow like that but work also once brought me to an old hotel in the mountains with wooden floor and big windows. The cracking sound of each step was memorable and every window panel or door had weight. It was not hard to move them, but you needed effort. It felt like I was, with 6 ft height, too small for the building, as the kid visiting the bears house.
I visited in 2001 the Gasometer in Oberhausen, agreed... The sensations and feelings were quite an experience 😊
Many years ago there was one of those here in my hometown. It held manmade
gas made by coking coal. It was how gas was used long before "natural" gas.
I met two women from that city! Near Stuttgart, right?
Thanks for this. I’m off to Japan with my (now retired) architect parents in March and it’s going to be like a mini guided tour. Brilliant work.
I am also an architect, and I have visited the architectural landmarks mentioned in the video. I share the same sentiments and emotions. Thank you for capturing it all.
I've always thought architecture was cool, but your videos have gotten me really excited about it. Your videos are always so fascinating and educational. Crafted with such love and detail. So thankful for these videos. You, and your team, are so pro.
I love your content so much. Very clean and easy to focus! Kudos to the editors
the last building was by far the best... to feel hear and see the little things... that's what makes us alive...
It was mid-December 2019, I visited Yellowestone National Park for the first time. It was cold, covered with snow, and partly cloudy skies. I remember the view of the mountain and forest, nearly untouched by human development and a serene silence. Our tour group drove up the mountain to look at wildlife at this time. The mountain was steaming from the volcanic activity happening below the earth. Our tour guide stopped and asked us to be silent for a moment to listen to the mountain and you could hear a low roar coming from it. It was an experience that made me feel small, it was a humbling feeling.
I think this is your best video to date! A couple of places that come to mind for experiencing senses other than sight. The first is an orchestral hall. There are obvious acoustic characteristics of spaces like this like short reverb time and sound attenuation, but what I always recall is more personal comfort in the way of temperature and airflow than sound. I remember talking with the project PA when we were designing it about how for a concert hall you want high-volume, low-velocity air. Since that day I always consciously perceive the very subtle airflow when the HVAC kicks on. The other place - loosely using that word here - is being in a hot air balloon. The most dramatic thing I recall about that experience is the quietness of being in the air. You don't hear cars or people or animals or really even the wind. It's just silent, and peaceful. Keep up the amazing work!
super interesting. really makes me want to go on a hot air balloon!
This was extremely moving and inspiring for me. I think having been raised in NYC created an affinity for the Japanese design and culture as a relief from the chaotic baseline experience I had growing up. Your work is very appreciated.
Girl, your videos are incredible. I just found your channel from a suggested video on my feed. Now I am obsessed with watching your videos! You're awesome
I think about the Frank Loyd Wright, Allen Lamb house a lot. (probably because it's the only one I've actually been too. It's simultaneously super cozy and super open. It's crazy old but they could open an entire wall to the back garden. There's just something charming about it that I could never put my finger on and despite being so old, it still feels like a modern home.
yep that's a beautiful house. FLW took a lot of inspiration from Japan, you can see a big difference from his pre-japan and post-japan architecture
Maybe it’s because this video is set in Japan that it’s primed my brain for my experiences there… But also I feel like Japan is where I first truly appreciated the effect environment can have on our mind and emotions. Maybe because there is so much intention put into design, the legacy of animism, or the stark contrasts one can experience within a short amount of time.
On my last few days in Tokyo I was tired of it and was planning on making that my last Trip to Japan. Tokyo specifically was so grey, so loud, so busy. I never wanted to go back, just wanted to be done with the country.
I ended up spending my last hours there at the Aoyama Flower Market. A cafe/teahouse/flower shop tucked away in the big city. The moment I entered I felt like I wasn’t in Tokyo anymore. It was warm and colorful and somehow comfortably quiet without being a space that demanded the use of whispering. It wasn’t cottage core, it had plenty of modern elements, but focused heavily on emphasizing the elegant beauty of nature. It was the first place in Tokyo I felt comfortable, and allowed me time to reflect on the other times during that trip that evoked a similar sense of tranquility. That it was Tokyo that left me feeling exhausted and alone. But in Kyoto, Osaka, and Bunny Island I had felt connected to the spaces and my companions.
It was the first place I ever was able to bookmark in my head as a designated “happy place”
I plan on going back to Japan with my family in 2025, and will def be checking out some of the places on your list. ❤ thank you
Mainly sticking to Tokyo is a common mistake tourists make when they come to Japan. Tokyo is just a city, no different than any other in the world. Maybe if you've never seen a big city before, this is exciting...? But the real Japan is outside the cities, out in nature.
For me above all other places I visited are the great pyramids of giza.
I was fascinated by them since I was a little child and when I finally had the opportunity to visit them my expectations where as high as they get.
But the real experience was topping even my wildest hopes. You really have to see them for yourself to understand.
These structures are so mind shattering perfect that I just could not comprehend them.
The longer I looked at them the more beautiful they get and I actually had to look away from time to time, because I could not handle the beauty anymore. My positive emotions where just overwhelming me.
These structures are beyond perfection and before I experienced them myself I did not think that something like this was possible on our planet.
I’ve had this experience twice before myself. The first was visiting Teotihuacan in Mexico. The second was seeing the statue of David in person.
My first experience with appreciating the subtle expressions of the lights and shadows through the walls and corners are from the Brunei and Taiwan airports. I was really, really young back then that loves to roam around and at one point, I honestly don't know what I'm experiencing but I am suddenly mesmerized by how the lights and shadows plays around the place like it's giving this sense of character for the whole airport, as if I'm discovering something that I do not fully understand yet. To this day I am honestly thankful for these experiences as I am more appreciative of the architectures and buildings that intentionally includes the fundamentals of lights / shadows as part of the overall design experience.
Your passion and thoughtfulness regarding your experiences and architectural influence is awesome!!! Thank you for sharing and educating. Positive thoughts for you and those close to you.
I’ve been in Japan some years ago and within all the places I visited, my memories meet together in the moment I was at Odaiba beach.
I don’t know why, but that place hit me in a different way than all the energetic and calming ones in Japan.
The light of the sunset, the sea, the light noise from the people walking around and on the horizon all the huge buildings and bridges.
Thinking about the millions of people were there and what they were doing and me just there on a beach, like a viewer from far away watching what seemed like a painting in constant movement.
I also had the pleasure of recently visiting Japan in November. By far the most ethereal experience for me was taking a cycle ride around Lake Kawaguchiko. This was on the last day of our 12 days in Japan. It was a cloudy day and we had just wrapped up the famous Chureita Pagoda at Shimoyoshida and we headed into the town. This was a day drip from Tokyo, so we only had a couple of hours. And to our luck, we spotted a bicycle renting shop and rented them immediately.
What followed was 3 hours of absolute Autumn magic. You're absolutely right about the perfect amalgamation of the old and the new in Japan. It is so evident in Kyoto and even in smaller towns like Arashiyama or Kawaguchiko. The rustling of Momiji trees filling the air with autumn leaves with the mighty Fuji-san 🗻 in the backdrop is an experience I will never forget. Going further, we rode around the lake into small paths that felt untouched. Winds creating patterns on the lake, the sight of the mighty mountain all along, the multitude of red/orange/brown/yellow autumn foliage, the breath of the cleanest air. And to top it all-off, the clouds cleared and we got the most magnificent, undisturbed view of Mount Fuji for a good hour.
The Autumn dreamscape, the gargantuan grandeur, the perfect end to our Japan trip. I just took a moment to take it all in. Japan will surprise you beyond your wildest imagination! I can't wait to be back. 🇯🇵
I'm in love with this channel. I love the generosity of the creators (not only do we get the amazing episode, but also additional information, such as the PDF mentioned at the end) - I really feel that the channel is born out of true passion for architecture and desire to share the knowledge and make it accessible to us, non specialists - a truly social projet, which I applaud. The quality of the material and story telling is outstanding (interesting also to note the growth over the past few years). I cannot imagine the amount of resources invested into this and I, as a spectator, really feel appreciated and loved, because of how thoughtful you guys are in every detail. Thank you so much for your amazing work ❤
Another very well done video, thank you Dami and team. The place that sticks in my mind was when I was working in Hong Kong. At night time just between Admiralty and Central on the Pedestrian foot bridges, this place that's booming in activities and people in the morning became eerily calm and quiet at night, as if time just stood still. The contrasts between daytime and nighttime exist in most downtowns of big cities, but in there there's a sensation that you felt the city can't wait to come back to life, but the darkness just suppressed it down. It's quiet remarkable and soothing, especially for those who's been through a stressful day of work.
I appreciate your articulate and immersive video narration. The editing is well done. Kudos to you and your team!
the production is amazing, really like ur video. I don't know why but I feel moved by watching cinematography and Japanese architectural works on this video. I hope u make another video about japanese architecture
Dami and her crew knocked it out of the park with this video. She should pitch this as a travel show. Like a food travel show but for design and architecture. Thank you for the travel guide!
It's kinda rare to cross videos which reach the same level of craft as the content they show. This and all your videos are keeping my attention fully glued to them for how gorgeously filmed, describe, picked analyzed they are. Please keep doing them!
what a beautiful video Dami! would love to visit one day
It’s funny, I was just on Awaji Island for a family vacation in the summer, and I also did the Ado Tadao architecture tour. But I wish I’d seen this video BEFORE my trip - I might have appreciated it even more! I personally really wanted to visit Zenbo Seinei as well, but it’s not really a traveling-with-kids kind of place. Spectacular, though. Anyway, great video! And for any potential Japan travellers out there, I do really recommend Awaji Shima as a destination. (As I’ve discussed in a recent video of my own.)
Thanks for the enlightening content!
One place that got stuck in my mind is the shadow under a small chestnut tree that grew in the garden of my grandparents’ house in the countryside, in Brazil. The branches and leaves of the tree grew like a dome, reaching to the ground beneath the trunk and touching it gently all around it. I remember having such chaotic feelings at that moment, and for some minutes I decided to settle down and sit under that dome. I felt the dry leaves and the remains of the open chestnuts that the squirrels ate under my skin, reminding me of the presence of the ground. It was itchy, rough, unsettling, but also extremely kind. It felt like that place and that tree were trying to make sure that I wouldn’t forget that I was there, sitting, feeling all those sensations. In the end, I was calmer, not completely still or connected, but certainly lighter at heart, like a blessing.
Thank you for sharing these observations and insights. The cinematography was lovely too!
Your video series is so deeply engaging and intelligent! I love the way you grasp, interpret, and articulate the architect’s vision for those of us who are not architects. Your work is very valuable and deeply appreciated!
I can feel what you’re describing. This is as much a mind set as the immersion itself. I experience this when I go to nature or when I’m in a city. Honestly though the only cities where I enjoy it, are the ones who are in decline. There’s a certain natural beauty when nature starts to reclaim the sterile structures. When you pause in silence and use all your senses, the world vibrates with waves that remind you that you are a part of the universal song. 🥰
love the way you present your videos, diving into deep research on unique concepts and going over feasibility. the algorithm brought me to you today and i found myself binge watching your vids and subscribing, keep up the great content!
One place that stays with me and calls to me when I’m far away and calls even louder when I’m nearby is Tadao Ando’s The Modern in Fort Worth. A place where rough concrete has been polished so smooth you can see your reflection in it. A place with seemingly not a right angle to be seen yet full of familiar shapes. A other world type place that still steps aside for you to experience and feel the art contained within its walls and its grounds.
one of the most magical experiences I've had that resonates greatly with the feelings of tranquility explored through this video would be my time in Arashiyama. I've never felt so close to nature and taking a traditional boat ride down the river slowed down time for me. It gave me the time to appreciate the surrounding greenery, the people of that area, but most importantly this experience left in me a strong feeling of collected satisfaction. (also there was a monkey park and they were funny hehe)
I live in Singapore, so I have an idea of Asian architecture. Here, it's quite boring but lively, the architecture is for the people and doesn't make you think about it much, I guess. When I was in Hong Kong though, architecture was the only thing I could think about lol.
HK is depressing, with giant concrete buildings as far as the eye can see. I didn't go out of my way looking for interesting architecture though. I overwhelmed by the number of people and noise and density.
One funny thing about the light in Japan was that it actually made me feel really sick each day when the sun started to set because I was from Australia and growing up 'down under' gave me the worst jet lag when the sun started setting because all the shadows were wrong! Luckly it disappeared soon after the sun set and meant that I ended up spending hours wandering around the streets near my hotel and getting lost in the beauty and peace in the middle of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. The highlights were staying in a teahouse in the middle of Geon, Kyoto and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park under a full moon with nobody around and wandering the paths to discover the memorials to the children and lives lost. There was a profound sense not only of sadness and the most dark deeds done by humanity, but also a tribute to how the people of Hiroshima and Japan had survived in seeing a man taking his dog for a walk past a night cafe. I have so many memories and photos of the beautiful interplay of light, darkness, peace and chaos from that trip to Japan and highly reccomend visiting some of the more popular tourist sights at night next time you visit.
I felt very similarly, but due to different reasons, of some late 1800s/early1900s buildings in Buenos Aires; particularly the Palacio Barolo. On the outside, it has progressions of balconies, cornices, and stonework that echo the billowing of clouds, but with a Romanesque revival aesthetic. However, what really got to me, was that the building was designed to emulate the path a soul takes to heaven via purgatory, in that one cannot go directly to heaven (observation deck) but must first, by design, scale the building using a series of different elevators and landings, which was to signify the purification of the soul as it rises to heaven. Then you add the western ( particularly Italian) tendency to decorate with allegories and metaphors, and it soon became a transcendental experience. It’s magical when architecture goes from merely the consequence of the hand of man, to the materialized spirit of what guided that man’s hand.
Beautiful description and appreciation. Love listening to you describe the feel of the grass and wood and sounds slowly happening. I remember the curve of the landscape outside the Pablo Picasso museum near Hakone Japan. It was a very blue sky day. Green grass. Carefully placed trees made me walk not run.The play space there was cosy with curved walls but felt elevated and inviting for all ages. I was 17 when I visited.
Few videos exist not just to educate or entertain. They exist for the peace of mind and soul.
This is one of them.
Hi Dami, you most certainly did a brilliant job of relaying to us the essence of what the place you visited feels like. For some of us, this video would be the closest we would ever get to be at such places. Thank you for taking us to such amazing places, and teaching us how to fully appreciate it.
This is my first comment after watching many of your channel's videos for some time. I have told members of my extended family about your channel and just the things I have learned from it. Thank you. Having said that....Walking using the ball of your feet first!?...if NYC residents knew this technique Lmao, guaranteed it would become a nicer place to live!!. Thanks again!.
Thanks! I was in Japan when this video came out and now I have an excuse to go back!
Great video Dami. There is this place Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, India. two mountains. vindhyagiri and Chandragiri. Please visit and find the deep shadows in those old temples.
Thanks!
I love the channel and this video. I agree the team did a great job filming it and the scripting is terrific. I feel like I'm back in the back in my introductory Art class that brought topics like this to the new college students, but at the time, it wasn't in this small college lecture hall but it was brought to us in old style movie theater with the Art Professor bringing lectures and showing on a huge screen. However, his quality of projection wasn't as dazzling as your team's incredible work. It's a great visual and audio projection that makes us feel like we're following Dani on a near virtual tour of her trip. I wish I wasn't a senior and a non-traveler that I could visit such places but the team's work is a great near replication of being there. Mahalo for the presentation.
Thank you 🙏
I always look forward to your videos. I always learn something new! In the past few years I've gained an appreciation for Brutalist architecture and I especially like how light and shadow contrast in these spaces-so I really enjoyed the bit on the Sayamaike museum and the work of Tadao Ando.
wow. i could listen to you for hours straight talking about space, light, mass and your perception of those. that's rare for me. thank you. amazing bit.
This video has sparked a deep curiosity about architecture in me. It’s breathtaking. Thank you 🙏🏼
We live in Sapporo and twenty-eight years ago we got married in Tadao Ando's Chapel on the Water at Tomomu ski resort. It is a concrete bunker with wooden pews and the wall behind the altar opens onto a pond in the forest. It is sublime and was a special experience to be married there.
Wow that must have been something! That’s on my list for my next trip in Japan.
15 Years ago my wife and I were also married at the Church on the Water. I first noticed the building in a book when it was first built while I was an art director living in Miami and it moved me to the point of almost quitting my job to study architecture. After meeting my wife who is Japanese, I suggested we have our wedding at Ando's church. We had no idea where it was located but we finally ended up in Hokkaido and had a wonderful ceremony. Now we live in Tokyo and enjoy our Japanese life.
Thank You for taking Me back to Japan & Architecture .
In 2006 I was lucky to meet Tadao Ando while touring in his Church of Light, and to sit with Shin Takamatsu at his table to talk and draw with his purple pencils.
Both Men and their architecture had inspired me to study design and architecture.
I was also impressed with the Miho Museum in Shigaraki by I.M.Pei. Following a path, discovering a viewpoint, control of light, volume, sound, temp, air flow, detail, pattern, repetition (much like Frank Lloyd Wright)…
Similar as your experiences and analysis, these places awaken your senses.❤
Thank you for rekindling my interest in architecture!
I am really glad the I found your channel a few years ago (when I was still in uni 😅). I’m just about to start a new chapter of my life as a Junior Architect, and I must say that your videos inspire me so much.
I haven’t had the chance to visit many places yet, so thank you for adding a few to my list. Kudos to you and your team ❤
I think one of the most memorable places I visited was the Valley of the Fallen in Spain. It's a basilica that was carved into a mountain. It's supposed to be a commemoration to those who fell in the Spanish civil war but was actually more so a monument the dictator of the time, Francisco Franco, made for himself. Despite the dubious origins, it's quite lovely. I was lucky enough to see it during a light snow and it was lovely ~ This is definetly a building that makes use of shadows to add to the grandness of it's architecture. It's really hard to describe.
Then there's Notre Dame in France which makes used of light coming in through stained glass. I saw it over a decade ago, long before the fire, so I can't speak on how it looks now but I remember loving the low amount of light that was used within the building and being amazed at the stained glass works that were really the main draw for me. Sure the rest of the cathedrial is fancinating with its architecture and majesty but the strained glass windows will live forever with me. Aside from the light coming in through the stained windows, there was only mimimal candlelight illuminating the gothic structure. This low light helped add to the naturally quiet atmosphere.
The architecture, the production are spectacular. Your passion for this is really palpable! Thank you for sharing
Hi!, I am loving this channel and your analysis of all the structures and environments and MOOD, yes mood of buildings and structures. I like to consider myself an artist, a builder, a person. This is my first comment on any of your vids and I just want you all to know that this channel and these vids are very inspirational and informative. I would like one day to move from hobbyist or armature artist to achieving more. I am here because one video in particular drew me in, and that was the "Solarpunk vs Cyberpunk" as our future. The basis of my art is writing, and I am scoping, analyzing, and experiencing through video the aesthetics and ambience of these videos and the philosophies behind them. As a struggling artist that fills my mundane existence with property maintenance tasks, I can't help but think of more. This channel and these ideas elevate my knowledge and understanding of architecture, aesthetics and and even lighting. These videos take us from being silent observers to active participants in our future, no matter how daunting that might seem.
wow I love that. Thanks for your kind words 🙏
Hand down, this is one of your best videos to date. This and the Kowloon Walled City video.
They are like the two most extreme poles of architecture.
One is pure Chaos, growing at its own unfathomable whim.
The other is the (imo) definitive condensation of design, where every rock, every nail, every detail is meticulously planned, the distillation of Purpose.
And both speak about true, living, breathing architecture.
This is a BEAUTIFUL video ^_^
The Japanese people definitely have a thing for attuning with nature nowadays in ways that many others don't. Just marvelous stuff.
Dami and team, you described and showed the last building BEAUTIFULLY! I got chills and felt very emotional.
Thank you for the pdf!
Used to live in Bunkyo-ku and would often visit St. Mary's beautiful space.
Clicked the video casue I thought I recognised the thumbnail!
"In Praise of Shadows" is such a fantastic book, but the way everything in daily life has changed since Tanizaki's time has made it hard to find the sort of atmosphere he described so beautifully. The closest I've found so far have been little, time-forgotten corners, like an old minshuku I stayed at on Mitake-san. Nothing about the place seemed to have changed in the last hundred years.
Light is invisible, untill it touch a surface.
Btw. As a graphic designer, i can really appreciate how clean your PDF layouts are at end. *chefs kiss*
I really hope you visited the depth of Harajuku while there. If you go into the smalls streets inside the 4 quadrants of the neighbourghood you'll find one of the best Architecture areas of Tokyo. Away from the horribly Touristic street of Takeshita, The scale of the buildings is much lower than Tokyo usual skyline, and it's full of unique architecture buildings and intricate small streets, It was one of the highlight of my trip, I could give you some guidance for the next time if you didn't or even photos. (I took a ton of them) It is worth it trust me.
I'm obsessed with Japan and it's culture, I want to visit the old monuments and archaeological sites. I want to experience it's natural beauty, I want to touch it's grass and meditate near a pond. I want to learn martial arts I want to live a disciplined life. A life of focus and calmness. And a lot more , I just want to go there 😖🤩
My drafting table is the place that I see. It is built with pieces of discarded necessities of the past. There is a plant, very near. It's in a pot. Its shadows dance across a plain white wall as the light configuration dances over the table. The wood smells like incense and lemon oil. The ink spray has dried, like the shadow of a rain that will fall forever. The old classroom chair reminds me to doodle during class. It takes me there. The space is very small. There is no heat. The books are within reach. They are the reminder of community. The sunlight pours in during golden hour, but the space remains mostly dark somehow, even with the plain white walls. It is always welcoming. It's humble, and sometimes in the middle of the night, you will hear me laughing at the silliness that meets me there, there on my plain, white paper; amongst the plain white walls, and under the chior of lamps.
This really got me thinking how did the architects and artists were able to confidently say that their designs will be able to create such an atmospheric effect by precisely manipulating nature. It probably makes me appreciate and admire some of these Japanese architects in their vision and precision in creating a visually simplistic yet rich designs.
Another great video Dami. I love the Japanese culture, at least as much as I've learned over the years being an Anime addict. 🙂 I think I will have to visit the Tashima Art Museum some day. That must sound amazing. I must say that Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum entrance just looked to me a lot like Brutalism,... with extra steps. Ha-ha-ha 😁 Rick and Morty reference if you don't get it. Anyway, keep on doing what your doing Dami. Love your content.
Man this video was beautiful. Your attention to detail is impressive but I suppose that is essential and the nature of an architect. Your appreciation of the subtle nuances of the experience almost made me emotional. These kind of experiences and appreciation of the beauty of nature and design are, in my opinion, what make life worth living.
Japan? Mysterious? Buildings? Say less 🔥
I am currently 42 and yet I cannot remember a single time that I have not wanted to visit or even move to Japan. Between the culture, architecture, landscape, and the people, it has always been on my bucket list. At this point, I have no idea if I will ever be able to move there, let alone visit. Videos like this stem my wants to a certain extent and then at the end, I am back to wanting to go with even more reasons to do so. Wonderful video, thank you.
Japan is blessed ❤ :D
I've never felt emotional because of architecture until this point.. I don't know how you've done it but I have a new perspective on architecture Thank you
Now that is brutalism I can get behind
I really love your videos! They're aesthetically the most pleasing I've ever seen and you also made me really more into architecture and design! Thank you!!
Uh, most classic Christian church architecture is based on a cross shape: nave, transept, chancel. You mention that unless you fly, a person won't be aware of it. But if you're used to that architecture, it's a given; it's mostly what communicates "you're in a church, act like it" to the parishioners. Admittedly, for an average Japanese sensibility this is probably not obvious, so the architect could play with it subtly.
I enjoy the pause, the space, the gap, your videos fill my days with.
Thoughtful, gently paced, and explorative; allowing your audience, at least me, to more deeply connect with, and appreciate, the ideas you delve into.
In a world filled with clamour and strife, your posts provide a moment free of it.
Now im just listening in Japanese dub 😅
I love this so much. I mean all of your videos are like that but the focus here on Japanese attitude towards noticing, attention, shadow, precision makes we well up with so much excitement and motivation. It just feels like things you do and things you highlight are done thoroughly. They are crafted not with a goal of gain, through shortcuts, but with the goal of the thing itself and thus creating a whole galaxy of little details that can enrich.
Thank you! & thank you to your team!
I was at the Teshima Art Museum this September and the experience was certainly unique, otherworldly, calming and inspiring. It's a curious museum but the concept works and it does give you a whole new perspective on the topic of art vs. nature; we felt it almost an ode to the natural world all around us.
Fantastic video, thanks for creating this top-notch content
Here's another captivating video from DamiLee, which draws me into the profound sensations evoked by architectural design, particularly those from Eastern and Japanese styles. The scene featuring the 'monolithic concrete dome' delivered a transcendental experience, echoing the feelings one might have when actually present in such a setting.
I had exactly the same experience on Teshima. When I noticed the water moving across the surface, I think it was the first time I felt "magic" and "unknown" since I was a child. I could not stop thinking about it. It was understated and delightful.
I love how this channel introduces architecture to a broader audience and it seems to inspire people to see the world through a new perspective.
I always look forward to your videos. I live in an area where Sayama Pond is located. I am very interested in earthquake-proof architecture. I think this earthquake is one of the factors behind the development of wooden architecture in Japan. Even the creaking sound of walking on the floor gives me peace of mind knowing that the building can withstand earthquakes. I'm looking forward to the next videos.
amazing work, thank you!
That's so interesting that you mention the Japanese walking softly ball-to-heel. I do that too and never really thought about why I do that. Well, I spent many years as a kid growing up in Japan (my dad was stationed at Yokota Air Base) and must have picked up the habit there. So cool! Thanks for sharing your trip and experiences at such beautiful destinations. There is something fundamentally deeply beautiful about a lot of Japanese architecture. Even as a kid, I couldn't explain why but I felt the impact of some of the beautiful places we visited. Of course, I was still a kid, and I distinctly remember touring a 1000+ year old temple and complaining about missing the Ninja Turtles. Definitely a place I'd love to see again with adult eyes. Thanks again!
Super cool, Dami! Thanks for sharing.
How fun were those little brown chairs at the meditation retreat?
Oh my ! I didn't want the video to end. The concepts so tantalizingly and so briefly described by you were intoxicating. Thank you @DamiLee .
I love that you take us to places that have feeling and give us, the viewers, time and space to have those feelings.
Thank you!
The enthusiasm you bring to your videos is priceless, you could talk about the design of a plastic cup and I'd want to visit it.
This was beautiful. I learned about Tadao Ando in Art class but never thought about visiting his building or finding videos of them. But your video made his art come alive and now I really get what he created. Can't wait to see it for myself
Probably the most memorable experience when it comes to architecture for me was the first time, I was able to thoroughly analyze a series of historical houses in Metro Manila. These houses showcase a stunning range of architectural styles, from Moorish Revival and Neoclassical to Art Nouveau and Art Deco. I find these buildings incredibly inspiring because they beautifully blend European design principles with Filipino culture. They ingeniously incorporate local materials and adapt to the country's climate and specific needs.
I watched the video about an hour ago and it's taken me some time to parse it all. First off, as usual, you and your team have created an excellent film. The Cinematography told the story almost on its own, with your story there to bring depths and revelations to what we saw. You, yourself are amazing to watch. I could feel the wonder, the experience and even the stillness from you as you visited each place. Especially when you were at the meditation retreat. But what really struck me. What really gave location and gravity to a feeling that I've had for years was the Teshima Art Museum. I've long struggled with depression. On the harder days, I just wish that I could vanish from the noise of the world. That I could appear in a place that would just let me be. The whole segment in Teshima had me in tears because there it was. It existed. I could go there one day. I could now focus on that imagery and breathe and recenter.
Thank you, Dami. Thank you to everyone at Nolli.
There was a place that was a large open meadow with a few cottonwood 0trees by a stream and mountains not too far in the distance. But it had a great vibe to it. It's the same vibe I get listening to Steve Miller's 'Wild Mountain Honey'. I can't remember when I was there, or why, or even what state it was in. One of the Rocky Mountain states, but I don't know which one, or exactly how old I was when I was there, but pretty young. And I wish I knew where it was, so I could go back there and see what it's like today.
Hi, I'm Japanese. I didn't know of Zenbo Seinei
and Teshima Art Museum!
I was born and raised in Tokyo, so I don't know much about things and stuff happening in the west part of Japan.
Thanks for sharing! They are now in my bucket list.