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Zen View

Opening context:
Entrance Transition, Entrance Room, Short Passages, Staircase as a Stage, Paths and Goals

Conflict

The archetypal zen view occurs in a famous Japanese house, which gives this pattern its name.

Resolution

If there is a beautiful view, don’t spoil it by building huge windows that gape incessantly at it. Instead, put the windows which look onto the view at places of transition — along paths, in hallways, in entry ways, on stairs, between rooms.

If the view window is correctly placed, people will see a glimpse of the distant view as they come up to the window or pass it: but the view is never visible from the places where people stay.

Closing context:
Natural Doors and Windows, Tapestry of Light and Dark, Window Place