Colonial Architecture is an architecture style driven by a mother country that has been incorporated into buildings, settlements, or colonies in another country; for example, Dutch structures found in Japan were built hundreds of years ago. This style of architecture usually appears due to trading, wars, or when a group of foreigners inhabits a specific place for a long time. Nevertheless, this type of structure is extremely interesting because it acts as a gateway for local people to cross cultures and a reminder of their history and heritage. It steps over the limits of place and time.
Colonial Architecture embraces the concept of “genius loci” -the spirit of the place- as it holds many years and memories of the city that connects people more to their identity. On one hand, the Japanese have distinctive characteristics that make them always stand out. Moreover, it depends on understanding the natural world to grasp spiritual insight and glorify human emotions. Therefore, colonial structures in Japan are easily identified among traditional Japanese buildings.
The city of Nagasaki hosts the biggest collection of Colonial architecture in Japan as it was, for a long time, the only port from which foreigners access Japan. It is a beautiful city with lovely natural scenery and Japanese temples. Besides, the city can be explored on foot by walking through its hidden gems or taking the old school tram that connects south to north. Foreigners from Portugal and the Netherlands came to Japan for Trade three hundred years ago and lived in Nagasaki. Consequently, they built homes, churches, and communal buildings. However, after the atomic bomb that hit Nagasaki during World War II, many of these structures were damaged and reconstructed to preserve Nagasaki’s heritage. Consequently, Nagasaki has a lot of history carved, not only in the minds of the Japanese but also in the minds of the whole world. Therefore, here are some of the most popular colonial architecture still found in Nagasaki:
Dejima:
It is the place the Dutch inhabited for two hundred years in Nagasaki. Dejima occupies a tiny acre area as it was the only access point for foreigners to enter Japan at that time. Walking through this small village is an authentic experience to learn about their daily life back then. Dejima has two-story wooden houses on both sides of the avenue, with trade storage space underneath the living area. The structure is influenced by the Japanese style, with some Dutch touches, such as the balustrades on the second level. Furthermore, there are still two of their public buildings, the Old International Club and the seminary.
Oura Church:
It is the oldest church in Japan and the first western-style building to earn the National Treasure Designation in 1933. It was partly damaged in World War II. However, it was reconstructed and entered UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2018. The Gothic church was built as a tribute to honor twenty-six martyrs who died during the anti-Christian emperor. The church is a statement in itself, as the facade is decorated with pointed arch windows and a rising spire.
Urakami Cathedral:
It was also destroyed by the atomic bomb, as it is five hundred meters from the epicenter. Luckily, the reconstruction of the church, completed in 1959, declares the survival of Christianity in Japan, despite all the hardships Christians went through. Moreover, it represents the Neo-Romanesque style with completely brick facades making this structure unique on its own. Urakami Cathedral replaced Oura church to become Nagasaki’s Archdiocese.
Glover House and Garden:
The Glover house is a blend of Japanese and western styles. The house was crafted by a Japanese carpenter, while the garden was commissioned by a Scottish merchant, Thomas Blake Glover. Thomas contributed to the modernization of Japan by building shops, coal mining, and many other fields. The house was the oldest western building in Japan. Furthermore, the building adopts a simple style with Japanese touches that appear in the roof tiling. The tiling takes the shape of a devil-headed to push away the evil spirit. Nevertheless, the western style emerges in the columns, arched lattices, stone-floored terraces, and arched lattices. The area is one of the most important tourist attractions in Nagasaki, as it adopts Georgian Aesthetics, popular in Britain, rather than Victorian.
Finally, looking at all the previous styles, it is obvious that there is a huge difference between western and Japanese architecture. Japanese architecture embraces numerous qualities that value proximity and intimacy. Furthermore, their architecture is always related to their religious beliefs that stem from affecting the unconscious mind rather than the physical existence. Therefore, Japanese architecture is one of a kind in terms of shape, materials, composition, and interior design. On the other hand, western architecture is neat, minimal, and standardized to reach the full potential of functionalism.
References:
GoingColonial (2017). Top 5 Colonial Structures in Nagasaki, Japan. [online]. (Last updated 7 November 2017). Available at: https://www.goingcolonial.com/top-5-colonial-structures-nagasaki/ [Accessed 16 October 2022].
Wikipedia (2022). Colonial architecture. [online]. (Last updated 9 October 2022). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_architecture [Accessed 16 October 2022].
Britannica (2019). Japanese architecture. [online]. (Last updated 13 September 2019). Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/Japanese-architecture [Accessed 16 October 2022].
Wikipedia (2021). Glover Garden. [online]. (Last updated 12 October 2021). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glover_Garden [Accessed 16 October 2022].
Wikipedia (2022). Japanese-Western Eclectic Architecture. [online]. (Last updated 30 September 2022). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese-Western_Eclectic_Architecture [Accessed 16 October 2022].
