THE kintsugi PHILOSOPHY applied in this renovation project, offers an inspirational approach to restoring damaged artifacts and edifices such that they become even stronger and more vibrant than before. In the era of SUSTAINABILITY, Kintsugi moves us because it is inherently about respect, preserving the MEMORY and evidence of this becomes an inherent part of the reborn version. As one of civilization’s most significant physical legacies, architecture is certainly a worthy platform for demonstrating respect and resilience.
The PROCESS offers significant benefits as a formal and spatial practice. Buildings are continually renovated and transformed over their useful life.The reoccupation of a deteriorating edifice with a new program and material language—a juxtaposition that creates an intentional contrast—can be a potent design strategy. This approach is akin to a kintsugi variant called yobitsugi, meaning calling together, whereby new pieces are inserted to remake a broken vessel. Whereas the original kintsugi approach is to reunite all the original pieces, yobitsugi is employed when not all the original parts are available, creating a mixed patchwork of new and old pieces.
Discovered during excavation
Enhanced and integrated in the new project
Final view
Before
Revealing the arch next to concrete addition
Revealing the stone memory under the new concrete skin
Highlighting on from site dismanteled stone barriers and exhibiting them as museum objects
