How About A Japanese Quarter?

A concept for one of the lots is to build a simple space inspired by traditional Japanese architecture that is used for a yoga studio/workout area, meditation room, tea room, and maybe a walled courtyard containing a rock or sand garden, Japanese red pine, juniper, wisteria, and fruit trees. The shape of the building is square or rectangular with a covered, wrap-around porch. The first floor is open but rooms are partitioned using sliding shoji doors. The stairs leads to an outdoor veranda that overlooks the rock (dryscape) garden. An outdoor stage is close to this structure and uses the same Japanese motif.

We will get help and inspiration from the Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild, they can be a good resource for us!

Features:
“Tatami” (mats) used for flooring
“Shoji” used as doors, window or room dividers

• Consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood which holds together a grid of wood or bamboo

• Designed to slide open

• Does not form the exterior surface of the building; it sits inside a sliding glass door or window

Layout:
There are rules concerning the number of tatami mats. The "auspicious" layout is ordinarily used. In this arrangement, the junctions of the tatami form a "T" shape. In homes, the mats must not be laid in a grid pattern, and in any layout there is never a point where the corners of three or four mats touch.