ROOFS OF THE EAST: CULTURAL MEMORY, STRUCTURAL EXPRESSION, AND AMERICAN INFLUENCE
Imagining you are walking on the street of the Manhattan, and you are surrounded by the modern buildings and contemporary designs of the Big Apple, and all of the sudden, there is a temple-liked building with four eaves curving upwards.
explores how traditional East Asian roof forms shaped architectural identity across cultures. From Chinese upturned eaves and Japanese Irimoya roofs to Korean ceramic tile systems, these roofs act as both shelter and symbol. Their influence can be seen in American Craftsman, Prairie, and California modern architecture, where deep eaves, horizontal rooflines, exposed structure, and indoor-outdoor living transformed the image of the American home. This research studies the roof as a cultural device, a climatic response, and a tectonic expression—revealing how traditional forms can inspire contemporary architecture without losing their memory.
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4DSKETCHER 