Dojo / de Alzua+

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: de Alzua+
Area: 840 m²
Year: 2013
Photographs:Sergio Grazia

Text description provided by the architects. Traditionally, dojo has to obey to a specific orientation.

The honorary side is called Kamiza and faces the South. The teacher always seats with the Kamiza on his back. The other side is called the Shimoza and is for the learners. On the Shimoza side, the advanced learners seat on the left of the teacher (East side called Joseki) and the beginners seat on the right (West side called Shimoseki).

This specific orientation has its own symbolist. Light of the sun is the knowledge and learners can only see this light trough the thinking of the teacher who must be a faithful mirror. The advanced learners are on the sunrise side because they start to understand the essential principles of their practice while the beginners are still into the darkness.

Dojo / de Alzua+ - Image 9 of 12 — Floor Plan

Here, the dojo is like gently landed on the natural slopes on the East, towards the knowledge, reinforcing this sensation of rising created by the elements. The free plane turns with opacity, translucence and gaps playing with light and shadow.

Black is its color, wood is its materials, translucent are its openings.