Singapore Web DesignerWabi Sabi — Zen Principles of Aesthetics Chapter 4: SHIZEN » AEN—Designer & Consultant

SHIZEN (natural)
Raw, natural and unforced creativity without pretense. True naturalness is to negate the naive and accidental.

Every living thing on Earth feels good when with nature. People go to relaxing countrysides for holidays because the countryside makes them feel at ease and comfortable. There are no crazy ringing telephones, spam-ridden inboxes, nagging bosses, noisy traffic, air pollution and crowds of stressful people. Compared to beautiful countryside, the city is stressful and cold.

Strip the technology from us humans, we are after all animals, creatures born from Mother Earth through years of evolution. We are a part of nature. We are the same as cats and dogs, insects and fishes. We just happened to grow a better brain which enabled us to become the most powerful animals on Earth. With that brain of ours comes great inventions and not so great inventions. Some inventions help us live better lives, some inventions put us through a slow and colorless death. Of course technology is also progressing and smart people will replace harmful inventions with less-harmful versions. But that is a long process, for it is a process that requires effort and changing of stubborn minds.

Still we have to live on despite all the nastiness around us. But we are comforted when we come into contact with nature. When we see or use things which are natural, we naturally feel comfortable and relieved from the stress around us. Do you have a piece of nature you can think of? No I am not referring to something like a piece of dry leaf or your pet dog. Take a look at these examples.

MUJI Wood Table

Wood is natural and a good material for furniture. Save the cost of painting and leave it at its natural color instead. When we dine or work on a wood table, we feel close to nature and it takes some stress away. LINK

±0 Humidifier Ver.3

This humidifier, which brings to mind the image of a sparkling drop of water, not only has a humidification function; it has become a standard which, as an object placed in a room, enriches our lives. LINK

±0 Towel(Bath)

The pattern on this towel resembles tiles and there is a link between the senses when it is used in a bathroom with tiles. This is natural and unforced. LINK

Church of the Light by Tadao Ando

Church of the Light is the Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church’s main chapel. It was built in 1989, in the city of Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture. This building is one of the most famous designs of Japanese architect Tadao Ando. A cruciform is cut into the concrete behind the altar, and naturally lit during the morning (as it is facing east). The benches, along with the floor boards, are made of re-purposed scaffolding used in the construction.
Image source

MUJI Home

There is 2 types, concrete and wood homes. Both carry the MUJI philosophy of simplicity, natural and enriching of lives. LINK