Introduction
Wabi Sabi is a Japanese concept that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, transience, and authenticity. Wabi Sabi is not just an aesthetic, but a way of life that acknowledges our fleeting existence and embraces the beauty of the imperfect, the incomplete, and the impermanent. In this article, we’ll explore the philosophy of Wabi Sabi and its application in architecture and interior design, with a special focus on House of Wabi Sabi.
What is Wabi Sabi?
Wabi Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that emerged from Zen Buddhism and Taoism. The concept of Wabi Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection, simplicity, austerity, and humility. Wabi Sabi is not just a style but a way of life that celebrates the natural world and its constant evolution and transformation. Wabi Sabi values authenticity, impermanence, and the beauty of things that are imperfect, incomplete, and irregular.
The Seven Aesthetic Principles of Wabi Sabi
According to Leonard Koren, author of “Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers,” there are seven aesthetic principles of Wabi Sabi:
1. SIMPLICITY: beauty in simplicity, austerity, and understatement.
2. ASYMMETRY: beauty in imperfection, irregularity, and irregular balance.
3. NATURALNESS: beauty in authenticity, the naturalness of materials, and their inherent qualities.
4. SUBTLETY: beauty in the understated, the veiled, the elusive, and the quiet.
5. IMPERFECTION: beauty in the imperfect, the rustic, the weathered, and the organic.
6. TRANSCIENCE: beauty that is fleeting, ephemeral, and transient.
7. INTUITIVENESS: beauty that is intuitive, spontaneous, and uncontrived.
Wabi Sabi in Architecture and Interior Design
Wabi Sabi has a profound influence on Japanese architecture and interior design. Japanese traditional houses like Machiya and Sukiya are excellent examples of Wabi Sabi architecture. These houses are simple, rustic, and unostentatious, with a focus on natural materials like wood, paper, and bamboo. The interior design of these houses is characterized by simplicity, minimalism, and a sense of intimacy with nature.
Wabi Sabi principles can also be applied to contemporary architecture and interior design. House of Wabi Sabi is a perfect example of contemporary Wabi Sabi design. This house was designed by architect Adam Robinson and interior designer Kathleen Whitaker. The house is located in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, and it celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the naturalness of materials.
House of Wabi Sabi: A House that Celebrates Imperfection
House of Wabi Sabi is a 2,000 square-foot, two-story house that embraces the principles of Wabi Sabi. The house is made of recycled materials like reclaimed wood, salvaged steel, and unglazed ceramic tiles. The house has an irregular shape that follows the contours of the site, and its facade is punctuated by a series of irregularly spaced rectangular windows.
The interior of the house is characterized by simplicity, minimalism, and a focus on natural light and materials. The living room has a low ceiling that creates a sense of intimacy and enclosure. The walls are made of exposed concrete, and the floor is made of polished concrete. The furniture is simple, with a focus on comfort and functionality. The dining room has a large window that frames a view of the garden and the surrounding landscape.
The bedrooms are located on the second floor, and they are characterized by simplicity, minimalism, and a focus on natural light and materials. The master bedroom has a large window that frames a view of the treetops and the sky. The walls are made of exposed wood, and the floor is made of polished concrete. The furniture is simple, with a focus on comfort and functionality.
The Garden: A Celebration of Nature
The garden of House of Wabi Sabi is a celebration of nature and its constant evolution and transformation. The garden is designed by landscape designer Mia Lehrer, and it features a mix of native and non-native plants that create a sense of depth, texture, and color. The garden is composed of different zones that are designed for different activities and moods, from contemplation to socializing.
