Comments on: Ask an Architect: Concrete Facades http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/ a web journal on Japan and elsewhere Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:54:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Grey http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Grey Sat, 12 Apr 2008 10:58:44 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-1533 I love concrete in architecture, but in europe there aren't good works, except Tadao Ando works. great blog... and great post! I love concrete in architecture, but in europe there aren’t good works, except Tadao Ando works.

great blog… and great post!

]]> By: Keiji Ashizawa http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Keiji Ashizawa Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:27:17 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-680 Actually I am a uchihanashi fan as well. Re.graffiti It's big topic. I will recommend my client to ask professional person to remove them. I found a few solutions on the web. 1:repaint. 2:remove,ask some company. http://www.mk-house.jp/wall/index.html http://www.alcon-artsprotec.com/6.html 3:remove by yourself. http://www.sys-con.jp/scremover21/ http://www.rakuten.co.jp/nonaka/436141/438830/916457/ Actually I am a uchihanashi fan as well.
Re.graffiti
It’s big topic.
I will recommend my client to ask professional person to remove them.

I found a few solutions on the web.

1:repaint.

2:remove,ask some company.
http://www.mk-house.jp/wall/index.html
http://www.alcon-artsprotec.com/6.html
3:remove by yourself.
http://www.sys-con.jp/scremover21/
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/nonaka/436141/438830/916457/

]]> By: Nathan http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Nathan Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:25:33 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-670 I'm a big fan of the uchihanashi. Perhaps it's my love for Ando's architecture in general. I'd love to build a house one day in that style, but the only thing that worries me is the issue of graffiti. Surely by putting up great big plain concrete walls, you're inviting someone to come and scribble on it. And then what becomes of removing it? If you paint the wall to begin with, you can just paint a new coat over the offending mark, but what to do with plain concrete? I’m a big fan of the uchihanashi. Perhaps it’s my love for Ando’s architecture in general. I’d love to build a house one day in that style, but the only thing that worries me is the issue of graffiti. Surely by putting up great big plain concrete walls, you’re inviting someone to come and scribble on it. And then what becomes of removing it? If you paint the wall to begin with, you can just paint a new coat over the offending mark, but what to do with plain concrete?

]]> By: Keiji Ashizawa http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-667 Keiji Ashizawa Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:16:11 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-667 Some uchihanashi takes a lot of money, it is put maybe seven layers. But I feel, it's too much as Uchihanashi. As you kindly mentioned between modernism and naked material, I would like to make the face of the concrete natural. When I built low budget concrete house, I don't put seven layers, just two layers. Actually it's enough. If you do seven layers, it isn't Uchihanashi. Then, it will be cheap and it will be spread in Tokyo. Probably Tadao Ando's house doesn't put any paint at first. Good concrete is water proof to start. But it is easy to get dirty and there are people who don't like that. Also we have plywood model for only uchihanashi. And some builder make very good concrete. At that time, we don't need to be sanded. Re.modernism, Uchihanashi in Tokyo is more complicated. As architect,I would like to talk more about modernism and simple. But such a philosophy is easily becoming just surface here and become other culture. That's why,we have uchihanashi wall paper. Probably I don't answer your quetion and my English will make you misunderstand what I want to write. But if you have further questions, don't hesitate contacting me or write your opinion. Some uchihanashi takes a lot of money, it is put maybe seven layers.
But I feel, it’s too much as Uchihanashi.
As you kindly mentioned between modernism and naked material,
I would like to make the face of the concrete natural.
When I built low budget concrete house, I don’t put seven layers, just two layers.
Actually it’s enough. If you do seven layers, it isn’t Uchihanashi.
Then, it will be cheap and it will be spread in Tokyo.

Probably Tadao Ando’s house doesn’t put any paint at first.
Good concrete is water proof to start.

But it is easy to get dirty and there are people who don’t like that.

Also we have plywood model for only uchihanashi.
And some builder make very good concrete.
At that time, we don’t need to be sanded.

Re.modernism,

Uchihanashi in Tokyo is more complicated. As architect,I would like to talk more about modernism and simple.
But such a philosophy is easily becoming just surface here and become other culture. That’s why,we have uchihanashi wall paper.

Probably I don’t answer your quetion and my English will make you misunderstand what I want to write.
But if you have further questions, don’t hesitate contacting me or write your opinion.

]]> By: W. David MARX http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-666 W. David MARX Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:13:48 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-666 Re: Naked materials and modernism Yes, we never stated this explicitly. Thanks for reminding people. Interesting though that these buildings peaked in Japan during the 1990s - a time which has been noted as specifically post-modern. My amateur reading on the whole thing is that usage in Japan has taken this modernist functional/material-driven approach and re-appropriated it "superficially" as a trendy style, i.e., postmodernist play on modernism. Tokyo's richer neighborhoods have so many of these houses, and you wonder why they suddenly decided to all worship materials after such a rush of wealth in the 80s. Re: Naked materials and modernism

Yes, we never stated this explicitly. Thanks for reminding people.

Interesting though that these buildings peaked in Japan during the 1990s – a time which has been noted as specifically post-modern. My amateur reading on the whole thing is that usage in Japan has taken this modernist functional/material-driven approach and re-appropriated it “superficially” as a trendy style, i.e., postmodernist play on modernism. Tokyo’s richer neighborhoods have so many of these houses, and you wonder why they suddenly decided to all worship materials after such a rush of wealth in the 80s.

]]> By: An Architect http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-665 An Architect Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:54:58 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-665 First off, uchipanashi concrete ain't cheap. To do it right, you have at least seven layers of paint and varnish on the forms, each sanded smooth - yields the nice shiny even Craig noted. Takes effort, creates high labor costs. Secondly - HOW CAN YOU RUN A WHOLE THING ON NAKED MATERIALS AND NOT MENTION THIS IS A KEY ASPECT OF MODERNISM??? (Yes, I know I was yelling. Sorry - I will be calm now.) The concept is simple: honesty of materials. This is a weird divergence of architecture and construction. Architecture went with monolithic purity (e.g., all concrete, all the way through) and construction went with these nice, scientific layers: one for insulation, one as a durable finish, one for waterproofing, etc. Ask an architect. First off, uchipanashi concrete ain’t cheap. To do it right, you have at least seven layers of paint and varnish on the forms, each sanded smooth – yields the nice shiny even Craig noted. Takes effort, creates high labor costs.

Secondly – HOW CAN YOU RUN A WHOLE THING ON NAKED MATERIALS AND NOT MENTION THIS IS A KEY ASPECT OF MODERNISM??? (Yes, I know I was yelling. Sorry – I will be calm now.) The concept is simple: honesty of materials. This is a weird divergence of architecture and construction. Architecture went with monolithic purity (e.g., all concrete, all the way through) and construction went with these nice, scientific layers: one for insulation, one as a durable finish, one for waterproofing, etc.

Ask an architect.

]]> By: W. David MARX http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-654 W. David MARX Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:10:10 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-654 In response to that link, there is no "inside joke" to this site, but I am intrigued on what makes one think there would be. In response to that link, there is no “inside joke” to this site, but I am intrigued on what makes one think there would be.

]]> By: Japan blog mini-reviews: part 1 » 世論 What Japan Thinks http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-651 Japan blog mini-reviews: part 1 » 世論 What Japan Thinks Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:35:11 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-651 [...] I just can’t quite see it. However, there’s one great article on the front page about concrete facades that you see everywhere in Japan, and which I dislike intensely, so it was interesting to learn how [...] [...] I just can’t quite see it. However, there’s one great article on the front page about concrete facades that you see everywhere in Japan, and which I dislike intensely, so it was interesting to learn how [...]

]]> By: Durf http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Durf Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:59:10 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-641 Yes, my concrete box might be cold in winter and hot in summer, but at least it has no windows to interrupt the smoove Berliner Mauer aesthetic. Yes, my concrete box might be cold in winter and hot in summer, but at least it has no windows to interrupt the smoove Berliner Mauer aesthetic.

]]> By: W. David MARX http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/comment-page-1/#comment-640 W. David MARX Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:57:20 +0000 http://neojaponisme.com/2007/12/13/ask-an-architect-concrete-facades/#comment-640 It's good they trashed Wright's Imperial Hotel instead of just repairing it. I would hate to see such elegance mess up the otherwise expediency-as-aesthetic unity of Tokyo today. It’s good they trashed Wright’s Imperial Hotel instead of just repairing it. I would hate to see such elegance mess up the otherwise expediency-as-aesthetic unity of Tokyo today.

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