THE MODERN APPLICATION OF TOKYO

WOOD BRACKET SYSTEM OF

ANCIENT JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE IN

YUSUHARA WOODEN BRIDGE MUSEUM

Tokyo wood Bracket

• unique feature of Traditional Japanese architecture• essential support to the timber frame structure and eaves of traditional Japanese buildings • a combination system of weight bearing blocks (masu) and bracket arms (hijiki)• fitted together by joinery alone without glue or

fasteners

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF TOKYO BRACKET SYSTEM ?

• Originated from ancient China• Notable architectural component call Dou Gong (wood bracket).• earliest record of the use of Dou-Gong in Zhou Dynasty• widely used in the Spring and Autumn

Period • Reach its peak in Tang and Song

dynasty

• In Song Dynasty , form fully developed, style unified , size standardized• number of layers used depends on importance of the building• Also as a status symbol• After Song Dynasty , Dougong become more

ornamental• 6th century , introduction of Buddhism

influences Japanese architecture• large scale temple using complicated

techniques in wood• Japanese study architecture from Tang Dynasty

HOW DOES IT FUNCTION AS A STRUCTURAL SUPPORT FOR BUILDING ?

• Structural support for building• Support weight of horizontal beams that span the vertical columns by transferring the weight on horizontal beams over a larger area to the vertical columns. • To support roof’s weight• The further the eaves extend, the more complex

the tokyo be• highly resistant to earthquakes

WHAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION METHOD OF TOKYO BRACKET SYSTEM ?

• Wood is the main material • Multiple interlocking bracket sets

formed by placing block (Masu) on a column to provide base for the bow-shaped brackets (Hijiki) that support the beam or another bracket above it.

Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum

 

• Kengo Kuma & Associates• Located at Yusuhara, town in the Kochi prefecture, Japan• a covered gallery pedestrian bridge that connects a hotel

and a spa, which had previously been separated by a cliff and a road.

• also  as  accommodations, work   and exhibition  rooms

• 154-ft. span• an interlocking beams system developed.• Alternating arrangement of interwoven wooden beams

creates a construction which floats in the air, supported by a single central pillar.

• Long beams rest above shorter ones , whole structure tapers to a point at a slender central column

• Columns on end merge with background surrounding

• The bridge evokes the traditional construction method of tokyo wood bracket system employed in Japan

• By repeating this method persistently to the scale of a bridge, it creates

a new expression of architecture while having its authentic Asian appearance.

THANK YOU

References• Wiborg,RS.(2010).Chinese Dou Gong Brackets.1-3.Retrieved from

http://www.richardwiborg.com/Chinese_Dou_Gong_Brackets• Zhu,EC.,Chen,ZY.,Pan,JL.,Wang,LN.(2010).Finite Element Modelling Of The Structural Performance Of Dou Gong Brackets Of YingXian Wood Pagoda, June142,2.Retrieved from http://www.ewpa.com/Archive/2010/june/Paper_142.pdf• (2013).Dougong.[website] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougong• (2013).Japanese Architecture.[website] Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_architecture• (2013).Tokyō.[website] Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toky%C5%8D• S,Lei.,Y,Guang.,Thetford,A.,Obregon,A.(2012). Yusuhara Wooden Bridge

Museum.[website] Retrieved from http://faculty.arch.tamu.edu/anichols/index_files/courses/arch631/case/2012/YusuharaMuseum.pdf

• Kuma,K.,Carder,N.,Derkowski,K.,Pabila,J.(2012). Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum-Red cedar bridge links traditional and contemporary expressions of Asian architecture,Summer2012,23-24.Retrieved from http://wooddesign.dgtlpub.com/2012/2012-08 31/pdf/Yusuhara_Wooden_Bridge_Museum.pdf

Image Resources• http://img5.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ybi/1/8f/21/cdblstb/folder/1573356/

img_1573356_37876884_0?1214745578• http://www.gjzw.net/Images/UpFile/2010424223130535.jpg• http://file21.mafengwo.net/M00/29/89/wKgB3FD2HX-AIN8LAArV-

WCBw2s31.groupinfo.w600.jpeg• http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/

site1000/20080325/000bcdb95f17095311065c.jpg• http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/daodao/photo-s/03/60/58/5a/caption.jpg• http://www.nipic.com/show/1/48/b7fd2454e9d1b590.html• http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~kiyomin2/tokyou.html• http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/83Arts12591.html• http://www.gooood.hk/_d273332980.htm