Morizo- Architectural Design

Learn Japanese Room Design

Our courses are suitable for both interested Europeans and Japanese people who want to learn more about Washitsu. We have three offerings for you, depending on your level of interest and focus:

We strive to make the course interactive and participatory. We hope this course enables new discoveries and encounters.

1. Course: Design Your Own Washitsu

Our first course offers you the basics of Washitsu and its various design possibilities. In this course with a subsequent workshop, we will explore different Washitsu design options together.

This course can be attended both in Düsseldorf and online.

Content

• Visual introduction to Washitsu basics
• Learn about Washitsu materials and elements with samples
• Design examples for different Washitsu styles and their differences
• Worksheet for your own Washitsu design
• Mini-Kumiko (kit)
• Questions about Washitsu
• Consecutive translation into English

Schedule

1. Learn the basics of Washitsu (30 minutes)
2. Explore various Washitsu design possibilities (30 minutes)
3. Develop your own Washitsu ideas (30 minutes)
4. Discussion + Kumiko workshop (30 minutes)

Participation Information

For registrations and questions, please send an email with the following information:

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  Desired course: 1st Course (Washitsu Basics)
Participation type: On-site or Online
Name:
Contact:
Location:
Occupation:
Questions:

2. Course: More about Shoji and Washi

Our second course is a workshop focusing primarily on Shoji and Washi. Design Shoji panels, which can also be used as lamps, for your own home!

Content

• Visual introduction to Shoji basics
• Learn about Washi materials
• Mini-Shoji-Washi craft workshop
• Take home the craft kit
• Questions about Washitsu
• Consecutive translation into German

Schedule

1. Acquire knowledge about Shoji and Washitsu (30 minutes)
2. Learn about Washi (30 minutes)
   Break / Teatime - (30 minutes)
3. Mini-Shoji craft workshop (30 minutes)
4. Discussion round with participants (30 minutes)

Participation Information

For registrations and questions, please send an email with the following information:

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  Desired course: 2nd Course (More about Shoji and Washi)
Name:
Contact:
Location:
Occupation:
Questions:

3. Course: How Shoji is Really Made

Our third course offers you the opportunity to learn from a Japanese carpenter how Shoji is actually made. A workshop on making chopsticks and chopstick cases is also included!

Guest Instructor: Masaaki Okimoto / Kisaburo

Masaaki Okimoto is officially certified as a “First-Class Carpenter” in Japan.

Kisaburo Web: https://kisaburo.info/

Content

• Real-time experience of Shoji making
• Learn about Shoji care and handling
• Make your own chopsticks from Japanese wood
• Design a chopstick case from paper
• Take home the crafted products
• Questions about Washitsu
• Consecutive translation into German

Schedule

1. Observe Shoji making (30 minutes)
2. Learn Shoji paper repair techniques (30 minutes)
   Break / Teatime - (30 minutes)
3. Work with wood and feel the paper to learn about materials (30 minutes)
4. Discussion round with participants (30 minutes)

Participation Information

For registrations and questions, please send an email with the following information:

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  Desired course: 3rd Course (Shoji Making)
Name:
Contact:
Location:
Occupation:
Questions:

Individual Offers (Available in Any Region)

For further questions or special requests, we are happy to assist you.

Individual Workshops

from €1000

• Planning and conducting customized workshops according to your wishes.
• Collaborations are possible. Please contact us for details.

On-Site Consultation

from €100

• Consultation based on the inspection of your rooms.
• Duration about 1 hour, plus travel and translation costs.

Idea Proposals

from €400

• Simple measurements
• Consultation
• Concept proposals
• Visualization (plans, sketches, etc.)

Washitsu Design

from €3300

• Floor plan/design planning

Lead Instructor

Rieko Uchida / Morizo- Architecture Design

Certified First-Class Architect in Japan

In 1996, I founded the architectural office Morizo-, where I handle designs and supervision for residential, commercial, and public buildings. From 2018 to 2020, I lived in Berlin and continue to strive to develop architectural designs that combine Japanese traditions with European culture.

Message

Interest in traditional Japanese rooms, called “Washitsu,” has been growing in Europe in recent years. However, while general information is widely available, direct experiences are still rare. Therefore, it remains difficult to find advice on how to adapt Washitsu rooms and their care to one’s own lifestyle.

Whenever I handle inquiries about Washitsu, I notice this tension between enthusiasm for the style and the difficulty of adapting it to individual circumstances. Thus, I have thought about how we can help more people learn to design their own unique Washitsu room.

Based on my experiences in Japan, I am now offering my courses and workshops in Europe, for the first time in person in Düsseldorf and partially online, to develop new ideas for your Washitsu room together.

Through these courses, I aim to bring you the enriching experience of Japanese craftsmanship. I look forward to offering these workshops in Germany, where excellent craftsmanship techniques also exist.

– Rieko Uchida

Cooperation Partners

• Utsuwa Project
• Yanase Washi
• Tanihata Kumiko
• Nakano Hyogu
• Kisaburo