On March 8th, at the 33rd “Meeting Intellectuals in the Spring Hills Lecture Series”, we had the honor of inviting renowned architect Shuhei Aoyama to share the lecture titled “The Logic of the Aesthetic, The Power of Space”.

Mr. Shuhei Aoyama divided the lecture into five sections: the beauty of small spaces, the beauty of cities, the beauty of life, the beauty of craftsmanship and the beauty of nature.

In the view of Mr. Shuhei Aoyama, the beauty of small spaces is in a delicate state. Japanese architectural design has various interesting small spaces, including four-square-meter tea rooms for hosting guests to collapsible nine-square-meter wooden cabins. Although the space is limited, the interaction between hosts and guests is clear and vibrant, and many intimate details of life are cherished. Mr. Shuhei Aoyama got inspired by the solitary rooms in ancient Chinese imperial examinations, infusing the charm of small spaces into the transformation of a 4-square-meter house in Nanluogu Lane and allowing it to possess the essence of  a flowing feast.

Mr. Shuhei Aoyama initiates his narrative on the beauty of cities with a case study of “A Breakfast Store on the Wall”. The concept actually means the shopkeeper packages breakfast in bags for sale and hangs them on the wall. The city becomes a "protrusion" form when people hang things in various nooks and crannies of the city creatively, and the vibrant atmosphere permeates the streets and alleys. As Leon Battista Alberti said, “The city is a large home, and the home is a small city”. Mr. Shuhei Aoyama hopes every citizen can regain the power to participate in and change the city!

When it comes to the beauty of life, Mr. Shuhei Aoyama recalled his ten years of living in the traditional alleyway. He recalls having a second refrigerator in the local market and a second living room at a stone table where the community elders would gather. The surrounding small spaces were all supplements and extensions to his home. He emphasizes that there is distinction betwen a house and a home. While a house may be cramped, a home can be warm and spacious, offering a sense of comfort and belonging.

The beauty of craftsmanship grows more precious in the context of assembly lines and mass production. Behind the beauty of craftsmanship is a design thinking that embraces serendipity, contrasting with the traditional purpose-driven design approach. Projects are shaped more by chance, sensibility, and the absence of strict control. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly powerful, the meticulousness and logic traditionally associated with human design may no longer hold a dominant position. Therefore, Mr. Shuhei Aoyama advocated future designs to embrace more sensibility, idealization, and serendipity.

The beauty of nature is familiar to everyone. Based on the consensus of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, Mr. Shuhei Aoyama also emphasized the importance of equality  between materials and humans, as well as the integration of nature and logic. He advocates for a mindset that engages the body in spatial thinking.

In the end, Mr. Shuhei Aoyama answered the questions from the audiences. Through examples like the EOSO Hotel and interactive installations, he emphasized the design spaces should exist for human experience and practicality again. In his sharing, we can see tactile images, four-dimensional space, and the fluidity of consciousness in architectural cases. At the same time, the architecture as solidified music also quietly flows into the texture of the city, enriching its fabric.