さて無想的な「四百年間のいのちの履歴書」探究から、ふと目覚めたらご覧の光景。
これは冬の散歩道でときどき歩く札幌市西区琴似の「空中回廊」からの雪模様。
北国人と雪との否応ない「語らい」には、生活上のさまざまな要素があり、とくに住宅分野ではいかにも「防衛的」に対応せざるを得ない気候条件。世界的にも特異な降雪量が５mを越える地域に人口200万人近い大都市を造営している国家国民は珍しい。
高断熱住宅という、この気候条件の必然として生み出されてきた住宅機能のなかでは、屋根形状もさまざまに工夫され続けてきた。人類普遍的な「三角屋根」では落雪させるのがごく自然だけれど、人口200万人という密集条件では敷地面積は過密化し狭小化する。そういう条件下で特異的な「無落雪屋根」が多数造作されてきた。
そういった気候と建築の「対話」のなかで写真のような特異な「美観」が出現する。
降雪時の風向・降雪量・南北方向の要因が複雑に絡み合い、自然はふしぎな造形をみせる。
わたし的には人類普遍の生存を支え続ける女性の乳房を想像させられた。基本的には整形的でありながら、左右で微妙な異同があって「個性」を訴えてもいるかのようだ。
そういう無想を呼ぶまでに「イキモノ」的な造形美。たぶん「垂乳根〜たらちね」という古語に属するような表現がピッタリ来ていた。
神々しさへのリスペクト心情を持ちながら、スマホをかざしていた次第。
こういう雪の無想アートを北国人は感じ続けてきている。津軽の人びとの「造形感覚・美意識」のなかにわたしたち北海道人は母性を感じるけれど、わたしたちは津軽ともまた違う環境要因のなかで、独特の感受性を育てているとも思っている。
さて。
過去の時空間から舞い降りてみると、世は選挙一色ですね。たいへん急だったので昨日ようやく投票券が郵送されてきた。1/17時点の住民情報に基づいて郵送との文面。全自治体関係者のみなさんの努力に敬意を持ちます。民主主義のたいせつな基盤。ぜひ、ムダにせず意思表示を。わたしたちは、未来への責任をも担っている・・・。
●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO
English version⬇
【Modern Art of “Snow” Awakening Northerners’ Unthinking】
Under harsh climatic conditions, the sculptural beauty of snow unique to the northern lands gently blossoms. One is struck by its divine aura, as if it were a living thing. …
Now, upon awakening from my contemplative exploration of the “Four-Century Life Resume,” I found myself gazing upon this scene.
This is the snowy landscape viewed from the “Sky Corridor” in Kotoni, Nishi Ward, Sapporo—a path I occasionally walk during winter strolls.
The unavoidable “conversation” between northerners and snow involves various aspects of daily life, particularly in housing, where the climate demands a distinctly “defensive” approach. It’s rare for a nation and its people to build a major city with a population nearing 2 million in a region with globally exceptional snowfall exceeding 5 meters.
Within the housing functionality necessitated by these climatic conditions—highly insulated homes—roof shapes have also been continuously refined in diverse ways. While the universally human “triangular roof” naturally sheds snow, the dense conditions of a 2-million-person population lead to intensely crowded and narrow lot sizes. Under these constraints, a distinctive “snow-free roof” design has been widely adopted.
Within this “dialogue” between climate and architecture emerges the unique “aesthetic” seen in the photograph.
Factors like wind direction during snowfall, snowfall volume, and north-south orientation intertwine complexly, revealing nature’s wondrous forms.
Personally, it reminded me of the breasts of women, universally sustaining human survival. While fundamentally symmetrical, subtle differences between left and right seem to assert their “individuality.”
Such a “living thing”-like sculptural beauty evokes profound contemplation. The old Japanese term “tarachine” (垂乳根) probably fits this expression perfectly.
Holding my smartphone aloft, I felt a deep respect for its divine quality.
Northerners like us have always sensed this kind of snow-sculpted art. While we Hokkaido natives feel a maternal quality in the Tsugaru people’s “sense of form and aesthetic,” we also believe we’ve cultivated a unique sensibility shaped by environmental factors distinct from Tsugaru’s.
Now then.
Stepping down from past times and spaces, the world is awash in election fever. It was so sudden that my ballot finally arrived by mail yesterday. The notice stated it was mailed based on resident information as of January 17th. I hold deep respect for the efforts of all local government staff involved. This is the vital foundation of democracy. Please, let us not waste this opportunity to express our will. We bear responsibility for the future…
●Notice
My book “Writers and Living Spaces” published as an e-book by Gentosha
Available on Amazon.
共有:
Posted on 1月 30th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
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