As I have lived in many Japanese houses, a room could be designed, that looks Japanese. But more than that I wanted to understand about the Japanese vocabulary and grammar, as far as interior designing is concerned, and made a study of it. Most essential for me as a representation of Japanese architecture is the imperial Katsura palace near Kyoto, that can be read on many levels. In one way it is a representation of archaic Japanese poetry and revives landscapes in miniature form and the nostalgia of the Heian court life. In another level it shows the influence of Zen-Buddhism in its simplicity and understanding of nature; it is not trying to overcome nature, but to become nature. The founders of Katsura palace lived in a time, when the Imperial family, to which they belonged, lost their power to the Shoguns, who made Edo (the later Tokyo) into their center of power. The founders withdrew from the court life and realized their ideals by having thee ceremonies in small cabins in the countryside. They are masters of the secrets of the Kokinshu, an anthology of early poetry, and hold the most honorable title of "Kokin Denju".

The Shoin-style, of which Katsura is an example, was taken as a reference. Important for this style is a seating place near the window for writing. Two other essential stylistic elements are the Tokonomà and Chigaidana. Tokonoma means bed (Toko)- space (Ma). The Tokonoma is a relic of the bed space, as it was originally conceived in South-East Asia, when it became raised from its wet surroundings amidst the rice fields. The "bed-niche" has on one side the so called Toko-bashira, the bed-post, that is a natural piece of wood, as it could have existed in a primitive hut as part of the structure and has become an ornamental feature. In this respect the style shows its own history. I asked the clients to find their own Toko-bashira. The Chigaidana (Chigai means "different and Dana "shelf") is another niche with shelving, where important items can be kept. Simple stylistic forms can be meaningful; such as a jump between the shelves can be seen as a reference to clouds or mist. The top shelf has a raised tip and is therefore called a Makimono-dana. 

The construction of the interior had to be practical and economically feasible. The whole interior is made up of simple and easy to construct elements. All the pieces are prefabricated in the contractor’s workshop and in a few days put together on site. The treatment of the wood with stains has different shades and is rich in coloring. The pieces, that cover the radiator, are pitch black, as is the entrance door. All the frameworks are of a dark brown color, in contrast with the Birch plywood paneling, which is stained white. The panels of the cupboard doors are of a Red cedar that is only varnished and has like all the stained wood a satin gloss. Also the build-in ceiling is made of Red cedar. Along the side-walls tube lights are hidden behind the paneling and reflect against the walls, to give the room an overall bright soft lighting. Behind the Tokobashira a lantern shines with a warm light bulb inside. The upraised floor is laid with a Birch parquetry. 

The 5 working drawings and 5 drawings with details give a precise drafting of all the elements. As a result the contracting price could be very sharp. The contract of 13 pages described all the elements and the way and order in which it had to be build. Building costs 19.978 Guilders V.A.T. excluded.