Properties and Application Potential of Shoji Screens: an Overview and Outlook

Historically, most modern residential buildings were designed as permanent and solid objects. However, many highly developed and populated contemporary cities have revealed emerging needs for more mobile, comfortable, economical, multi-functional, and aesthetic residences. One of the architectural styles contemporary architects can derive inspiration from is Japanese architecture, a unique architectural style well-known for its sophisticated building techniques, material selection, and aesthetics. Due to frequent natural disasters, the high forest cover rate, the limitations on space, and the dense population, most Japanese buildings (residences, temples, and palaces) developed high mobility, intricate functionality, and unique aesthetics. In previous research, very few scholars focused on a comprehensive discussion of one fundamental component of traditional Japanese architecturethe shoji screenand how this component influences Japanese residences in multifaceted ways including the optical, ventilated, aesthetic and spatial ones. To address this research gap, this paper analyzed the properties of the materials composing the shoji screens and elucidates the reasons why the Japanese appreciate and utilize shoji screens. This paper approves the potential advantages in improving peoples living quality, endorses the applications of shoji screens in small residences, and proposes further refinements on shoji screens on materials.