Research Seminar: "Comparative Study of Courtyard Houses-Mediterranean World, China and Japan"

Date: 4 Oct. 2005 (Tue) 17:00-21:00
Place: Meeting Room B, 25th Floor, Boissonade Tower, Ichigaya Campus, Hosei University

"Theory of Space for Courtyard Houses--Comparison between Ancient Rome　and China"
Luigi Gazzola
In the places where ancient civilization had developed, the courtyard houses can be commonly found. The focus of the report was the necessity and inevitability of such residences, from the comparison between ancient Rome and China.
Walling a city or a residence aims to protect from outer world, e.g., climate change or foreign enemies. In addition, the wall plays a role in establishing order, by separating spaces.
Although early residences of ancient Rome had been walled, rooms gradually served as walls, to become an origin of a courtyard house. Each of symmetrically aligned rooms had various functions, instead of serving a particular role. A courtyard house in China also included symmetrically aligned rooms, as well as a clear axis. As we have seen, the concept of such spatial structure had been shared by ancient Rome, though it can rarely be found in other areas. In China, each room has different dimension according to the function given to the room. The spatial hierarchy in China has been based on Confucian ethic, which emphasizes to show respect for the elderly and fatherhood.
In ancient Rome, domestic animals and farm tools which had been considered to be the same level as living spaces, would be separated and arranged outward of the living spaces. The fire pit was set up in the bedroom of parents; the importance and symbolism have been constantly given to this room. A shop was built in front of the house, and an orchard was planted in the back. Two courtyards for a house became increasingly common; the one near the entrance was for gathering people, and the other in the back with portico was for the family. It was important to have a southern exposure; the living room of parents was built on the north side of a lot. On the west and east sides, the living rooms of children and their spouses were built. Facing north has been regarded as sinister direction in China, therefore functions other than living were assigned to the north rooms. As in ancient Rome, two yards (front and back yards) for a house became increasingly common in China. The tiny front yard could be approached by making a right-angled turn from the gate. The front yard was for meeting guests and often had a gate man. Therefore, the gate between the front yard and courtyard took on the most important function, as an essential element of North-South axis of a courtyard house.
The units, each of which is composed by a courtyard and surrounding living rooms, extend toward the back, retaining the same spatial structure pattern. As we have seen, the axis and spatial structure in a courtyard house have presented similar characteristics, but there are differences in the ways of expansion and approach to a residence between ancient Rome and China.
While analyzing residences and cities in present China, we successfully restored a traditional large courtyard house located in the residential area of Beijing with cul-de-sacs and narrow alleyways, by applying architectural typology proposed by Gianfranco Caniggia. Based on the restoration, we have considered the process of sharing the space among several families. The Understanding of the characteristics of an area developed in a manner described above will provide the basis for the future renovation of cities and architecture.