コンドミニアムという宿泊環境がホテルのような環境と決定的に違うのは食についての考え方。ホテルのような施設は食を「提供する」ものと考えて「おもてなし」レベルに合わせて用意している。しかし滞在型のコンドミニアムでは、この部分について「勝手にすれば〜」という姿勢で利用者に任せること。
利用者としては勝手気ままに食材を調達・用意してきて、利用期間中自由な食事時間を過ごせる。おもてなしに身を委ねる快適感もあるけれど、そういうのがうざったいという気分も人間は持つ。
日本文化で言えば、農閑期に体を休めるために温泉などで過ごしながら自分で食事を自前で作る「湯治」に似ている。こういうライフスタイル文化は、世界共通のものとしてあるのでしょうか。で、わたし的にはこういうライフスタイルが高齢者夫婦の基本ライフスタイルと通じているのではないかと直感されるのですね。
考えて見れば高齢期の過ごし方と湯治には似た部分が多い。仕事との関係性で住環境が規定されるような部分からはかなり自由になって過ごせる時間が増えていく。仕事人生で苦楽をともにした夫婦として、湯治のようにこころとカラダを充足させるという要素が感じられるのですね。で、そういうのって人類未到の人生時間体験領域なのかも知れない。ようやくそういう充足を追究できるように人類は進化した（笑）のかも。
現代では食事の用意については非常に洗練された「システムキッチン」という装置が完成している。また、クルマという移動手段が発達したので食材購入・入手についても自由度が格段に社会進化している。こういう自由を確保するためにも、認知機能低下への科学研究には大いに期待したい。現代高齢者の自由は、自動車免許の維持が大きな要素を占めるように思っている。
このコンドミニアムを参観してこのキッチン空間が１×２間の空間にきれいに収まっていることにあらためて目を開かせられた。そして同様に階段という移動の空間が吹き抜けとしても活用されて面積的には１×２間に収まって，対になって構成されている。合理的。
きのうも書いたけれど高齢者にとって階段の上下運動はピンピンコロリのためにはむしろ活用すべき装置のようにも思える。そして日本住居建築で縁や廊下などの移動空間が果たしてきた役割が、２坪に集約されているのは移動・気分転換装置としてはこれも合理的。
こういう空間装置・配置からはいかにも「人生の断捨離」というような主張性を感じさせられる。

English version⬇

The basic “food and movement” of human beings in a space of 2 rooms by 6 rooms condominium-3
The basic space for life and health maintenance is compactly and inexpensively arranged. I feel a sense of cleanliness like a “life’s separation” when I look at it. The “food” and “movement” are also very well arranged.

The critical difference between a condominium lodging environment and a hotel-like environment is the concept of food. Hotel-like facilities consider food as something to be “provided” and prepare it according to the level of “hospitality. However, in a condominium, this part is left to the user with the attitude of “do as you please.
The user is free to procure and prepare food items as he/she pleases, and enjoy free time for meals during the period of use. While there is a sense of comfort in surrendering oneself to the hospitality, people also have a feeling of being bothered by such things.
In Japanese culture, this is similar to the “Touji,” in which people cook their own meals while spending time in hot springs to rest their bodies during the off-season for farming. I wonder if this kind of lifestyle culture is common throughout the world. I have a hunch that this kind of lifestyle is similar to the basic lifestyle of elderly couples.
If you think about it, there are many similarities between the way people spend their time in old age and a hot-spring cure. The time one can spend in Touji is considerably freed from the part where one’s living environment is defined by one’s relationship with one’s work. As a couple who have shared many hardships and joys in their working lives, you can feel the element of fulfilling the body and mind in the same way that a Touji does. This may be an area of life time experience that has not yet been reached by mankind. Perhaps humanity has finally evolved to be able to pursue such fulfillment (laughs).
Today, we have a very sophisticated “system kitchen” for preparing meals. In addition, the development of the car as a means of transportation has allowed for a much greater degree of freedom in purchasing and acquiring foodstuffs. In order to secure this kind of freedom, I have high expectations for scientific research on cognitive decline. I believe that a major factor in the freedom of the elderly today is to maintain their automobile license.
The kitchen space is neatly contained in a 1 x 2 space, which opened my eyes again. Likewise, the staircase, a space for movement, is also utilized as a stairwell, and in terms of area, it fits into the 1 x 2 room and is composed of a pair of spaces. It is rational.
As I wrote yesterday, the up-and-down movement of the staircase seems to be a device that should be utilized for the elderly in order to keep them in good health. The role played by the moving spaces in Japanese residential architecture, such as the porch and corridor, is concentrated in the 2 tsubo area, which is also rational as a device for moving around and changing one’s mood.
This kind of spatial device and arrangement gives us a sense of assertiveness, as if to say, “I’m going to cut off my life.

Posted on 7月 1st, 2023 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 住宅取材＆ウラ話