This weekend, we went down to the Geisha district in Kyoto. It is the largest district where geishas entertain their clients, but the business/career itself is very small and is declining. In efforts to rehabilitate the lifestyle, there was a major development of certain streets (identified by their cobblestone paving) that turned original private machiya houses into small and eclectic restaurants and bars. In restoring this area with elements of the "old", the whole neighborhood is more or less very new looking. And because it is not used for what it used to be used for (lower income housing, small tea shops and stores) it in itself is a decorative object. The interaction with the space itself is minimal (used by tourists, geishas, and business men at certain times of day). Its an excessive addition to the fabric of Kyoto, an artificial revival of a lifestyle more than that of a place.
Also this screen motif, as a traditional aspects of the machiya houses, was quite overplayed, (incorrectly at times) but was a major player in making this area appear "old" and refurbished.
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