Thresholds of Ryōan-ji

"One of the most salient characteristics of Japanese architecture is the fact that the garden and its physical surroundings are an inseparable entity. This is further enhanced and expressed through the flexible, fluid nature of demarcations, which are denied as soon as they are laid out and which simultaneously separate and connect... This is one of the most quintessential attributes of the original Zen gardens: the elaborate equilibrium of contraries, and the apprehension of the world as a dialectical continuum."

- Camelia Nakagawa, The Japanese Garden for the Mind

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Ryōan-ji temple, often considered the quintessential Japanese garden in the West, contains a continuum of spaces ranging from the practical to the sacred. the karesan-sui here is the most revered space; layers of meaning have been projected onto this raked gravel surface, creating a "material metaphor" beyond the simple arrangement of rocks. Conversely, the humble gravel footpaths are often entirely overlooked despite the continuity of material and subtlety of demarcation. This raises the question: how does architecture turn consistent matter into distinct psycho-spiritual entities? This project explores transitional spaces within Ryōan-ji temple through an architectural investigation of gravel and stone in sacred and profane implementations.