Circulation Delay: Not Allowing Direct Access

A deliberately circuitous route. The path from the entrance to the main space is not a straight line: first, one must pass through a low opening, requiring one to duck; then, a narrow, dimly lit passage; next, a ninety-degree turn, passing through a small courtyard where stepping stones are intentionally unevenly spaced, forcing one to slow down and look at the path; then another turn before reaching the destination. The light along the entire route changes from dark to bright and back to dark, the width from narrow to wide and back to narrow, and the ceiling height also varies. These delays are not to increase distance but to allow people to shed their external state before arriving. Materials are stone, earth walls, and wood. Avoid: making the route straight and wide; evenly spaced stepping stones; eliminating variations in height and width; brightly lighting the entire path.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一段刻意繞路的行進路線。從入口到主要空間之間不是一條直線:先要穿過一個低矮的開口必須低頭;然後是一段狹窄昏暗的通道;接著轉九十度,經過一個小小的庭院,踏石的間距刻意不均勻,迫使腳步放慢並低頭看路;再轉一次才到達目的地。整段路程的光線由暗轉明再轉暗,寬度由窄轉寬再轉窄,天花的高度也在變化。這些遲滯不是為了增加距離,而是為了讓人在抵達前先把外面的狀態放下。材料是石、土壁與木。避免:把路線做成直線與寬敞的通道、讓踏石間距均勻、消除高度與寬窄的變化、把整段路照得明亮。