Bansho-ji

In a space that commonly associates with death,  the charnel house can often provokes undesirable feeling in all of us. The head priest of Buddhist temple Basho-ji, a 16th century Buddhist temple in Nagoya, Japan, asked Masuo Fujimura for an innovative space featuring LEDs: a bright setting free of the gloomy and undesirable atmosphere.

Interior designer Masuo Fujimura created a delicate curtain of crystals above the entrance represents the Milky Way. Stainless-steel rods on glass walls flanking this entrance are illuminated by uplights, which produce a veritable waterfall of light. LEDs in the walls include five colors – blue, yellow, red, green and gold – that can create a total of 400 glowing patterns. Visitors use IC (integrated circuit) cards, which illuminate specific ‘drawers’ in the walls. The name of the deceased appears on the display in question for two minutes.

Seen on FRAME

Photos by Nacása & Partners