kiwari 木割 golden ratio

One of the projects I worked on was inspired by Japanese shrine architecture. Curious to understand the concept more deeply, I began researching the design principles behind it - and discovered something truly fascinating.

Traditional Japanese timber architecture often followed a system similar to the Golden Ratio, used to achieve perfect proportion and balance in design. This system was known as Kiwari (木割), and it was widely practised from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) through the Edo period (1603-1868).

The earliest known example of a structure designed according to Kiwari is Horyu-ji Kondo - the main hall of the Horyuji-temple - completed in 607.

Kiwari is a method of determining the proportions of a building's components based on ratios between key elements. The diameter of the columns and the distance between them served as the fundamental measurements. All other parts of the structure - from beams and brackets to the roof - were then designed in harmonious proportion to these base dimensions.

This system made architectural design rational, efficient, and consistent, allowing for smooth construction and structural balance. However, if applied uniformly to all buildings, it risked producing designs that felt repetitive or lacking in individuality.

To counter this, master carpenters began to infuse creativity into their work - subtly varying details, inventing new joinery techniques, and adding unique decorative elements to distinguish one building from another.

Through Kiwari, Japanese architecture achieved a delicate balance between mathematical precision and human creativity - a harmony that still inspires desiners today.