The monk's window

"A Buddhist monk lived high in the mountains, in a small stone house. Far, far in the distance was the ocean, visible and beautiful from the mountains. But it was not visible from the monk’s house itself, nor from the approach road to the house. However, in front of the house there stood a courtyard surrounded by a thick stone wall. As one came to the house, one passed through a gate into this court, and then diagonally across the court to the front door of the house. On the far side of the courtyard there was a slit in the wall, narrow and diagonal, cut through the thickness of the wall. As a person walked across the court, at one spot, where his position lined up with the slit in the wall, for an instant, he could see the ocean. And then he was past it once again, and went into the house.

What is it that happens in this courtyard? The view of the distant sea is so restrained that it stays alive forever. Who, that has ever seen that view, can ever forget it? Its power will never fade. Even for the man who lives there, coming past that view day after day for fifty years, it will still be alive.

This is the essence of the problem with any view. It is a beautiful thing. One wants to enjoy it and dink it in every day. But the more open it is, the more obvious, the more it shouts, the sooner it will fade. Gradually it will come part of the building, like the wallpaper; and the intensity of its beauty will no longer be accessible for the people who live there." From A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander.

Applying the Zen Approach to Interior Spaces

Design moments of pause throughout the home: Instead of exposing every space to a view or a striking feature all the time, create “small moments” – niches, openings, windows, corridors, or staircases that offer glimpses into the distance, a special object, or even an interior garden. Every passage becomes an experience.

The experience of movement and transitions: As people move through the home, they experience the space dynamically. Every transition, every turn, can serve as an opportunity for a brief pause and reflection. This creates a natural rhythm in the home - not an overload of stimuli, but moments that reveal themselves gradually.

Preserving the value of beauty: If a view or design element is constantly visible, its impact diminishes - it becomes “part of the background.” A carefully framed reveal, like the slit in the monk’s wall, preserves the sense of wonder and intensity.

How to apply this in your home:

• A small window or opening in a wall facing a garden or outdoor view.

• A corridor with a niche or mirror that guides the eye to a specific point.

• A seating area by a narrow window that allows a glimpse of the distance, rather than a fully open view.

• Stairs leading to a balcony where the view appears only as you ascend.

This approach not only decorates the home but transforms the experience of being in it. The home becomes a journey - every passage, every step, invites a pause and an appreciation of the beauty hidden in small moments.