A joint studio between Kyoto Institute of Technology and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Comparing Lake Biwa and Lake Lucerne, we are conducting a long-term joint research on the theme of “The Culture of Water”. Working on the same theme in two regions with different cultures and environments, we seek common ground and differences and analyze how they affect architecture. The aim is to discover new possibilities for architecture from the analysis results.

In 2020, the third year, we have set up a sub-theme of “WATER and BEAUTY”. The purpose is to explore the beauty of architecture through exploring the beauty of water. In the first semester, we worked on Lake Lucerne, and in the second semester, we relocated ourselves to Lake Biwa to do further research and design. At Lake Lucerne, where there seems to be beautiful in general, places that are considered to be rather unbeautiful, such as industrial land, were chosen, and attempts were made to discover the beauty hidden in those places through architectural interventions. At Lake Biwa, we have chosen 8 locations following the “Eight Views of Omi” drawn by Hiroshige Utagawa. We tried to redefine and redraw the contemporary version of the Eight Views, which have changed in many ways from the time when Hiroshige has drawn. Where is beauty? What is beauty in architecture? By exploring the answers to these questions and redefining beauty, we were able to discover the chances of rewriting the modern city in a more beautiful manner.

In this exhibition, the results of research and design at Lake Biwa as well as the results of workshops held during the autumn semester 2020 are exhibited. This year’s joint studio was done completely online due to COVID-19, with some exceptions of field research. Hence the results will be exhibited equally online. Participants must have realized the value and the quality of communication that can only be obtained through physical field surveys and face-to-face encounters. Even under such circumstances, everyone tried to overcome the negative situation: by making the best use of their digital technique they have sublimated the fragments into beautiful visions. It is also a benefit of online exhibition that viewers can appreciate the work anytime from anywhere in any detail. We missed a lot by limitations due to COVID-19, but it often made us aware in many aspects. Human beings, or better said living creatures overcome difficulties by “evolution” when faced with difficulties. We hope that this joint studio will be a small evolutionary opportunity for participants and that everyone who appreciates the exhibition will be aware of the evolution. (Masahiro Kinoshita, Hiroyuki Kimura)