Horizon Line: All Lines Are Lying Down

A space dominated by horizontal lines. The ceiling is very low; the window is a long horizontal strip, its lower edge close to the ground; the baseboard of the alcove, the wooden beams, the direction of the floor planks, and the surface of the low table are all horizontal lines, parallel to each other and repeating at different heights. Vertical elements are extremely few and very thin—only one or two slender columns. Because horizontal lines are in the absolute majority, the space appears calm, downward-oriented, and close to the ground, without upward tension. People in it will naturally want to sit down. The spacing of these horizontal lines is irregular, sometimes dense, sometimes sparse, forming a rhythm. Materials are earthen walls, wood, and tatami mats. Light enters horizontally from the long window. Avoid: adding strong vertical elements, making the ceiling high, using tall upright windows, making the spacing of horizontal lines perfectly even.

Translated from Chinese by AI.

一個由水平線主導的空間。天花很低;窗是橫長的一道,下緣接近地面;壁龕的底板、木質的橫樑、地板的鋪設方向、以及矮几的桌面,全部是水平的線條,彼此平行並在不同的高度上重複。垂直的元素極少且很細——只有一兩根細柱。因為水平線佔絕對多數,空間顯得沉靜、向下、與地面親近,沒有向上的張力。人在其中會自然地想坐下。這些水平線的間距不規律,有疏有密,形成節奏。材料是土壁、木與草蓆。光從橫窗水平地進入。避免:加入強烈的垂直元素、把天花做高、使用直立的高窗、讓水平線的間距完全均等。