House Week #4
Comments: 4
Some random shots from the neighbourhood today, nothing special (I’m saving the best for later on). But first, I need to make a correction.
I mentioned before about the modular nature of traditional architecture in Japan and received a stern rebuke from none other than Heinrich Engel tonight by way of his masterpiece, The Japanese House (Tuttle, 1964). Doing some further reading to try to identify a particular style of tiling, I came across this fragment:
…but it is important to note that the tatami has never, not even fictitiously, functioned as a module in the Japanese house, as has been frequently assumed.
I think what he means is that because there is so much variation in tatami sizing and usage, we shouldn’t fall into the trap of thinking that 6 × 3 feet constitutes some sort of universal module. Elsewhere in the book, however, he does explicitly link tatami to the concept of modulation although I can’t find the reference right now so am unable to clarify exactly what he means. In matters architectural, keep in mind, listen to Heinrich not me.
The photograph above shows a kura. These are out-buildings used for storage, the traditional equivalent of the humble shed. They’re generally all of a similar structure; two-storey stone construction with thick walls to regulate the internal temperature and very small windows (usually only one) to try to keep out the humidity. Only rich people have kura (and the family whose kura this is are very rich: they own half the neighbourhood).
This old place is literally falling down around the occupants’ ears. Back when God was a boy they replaced the tile on the main part of the house with tin (a safety measure against earthquakes, tin being so much lighter). The red pine whose trunk you can see here warrants its own picture which I might be able to supply if we get a sunny enough day that it’s presented properly. It’s one of my favourite trees in the whole neighbourhood.
This photograph shows the back part of the same house. This is probably the kitchen (they tend to be tucked away on the colder and darker north sides of houses because it’s only the women who will occupy them – seriously). I include this shot because it shows a different kind of tiling that we haven’t seen yet: ichimonji-gawara. These particular tiles are old, but I doubt they’re original.
The other thing to note in this shot is the way the house is starting to sag. It’s the beginning of the end. They start to give way just like we do, sagging under the weight of the years, posture falling into decrepitude.
Not sure why I’m throwing in this shot other than to show you rice growing by the side of the road in suburban Tokyo. Comes with the territory when you live behind the country’s oldest agricultural university, I guess. This weekend is the university festival, by the way, which means we get to buy good honey. We’ll be heading over tomorrow and I’ll try to post some shots.
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Posted to Architecture • 2002.11.02 (Sat) • 23:19
Comments
Posted by Christopher Walker 2002.11.03, 14:25
I’m not entirely sure of the matter myself but I always thought that three tatami connected together (two one way, the other along the gap to make a square) was a standard unit of measure in Japanese housing.
Is it “tsubo” I’m thinking of?
I read about it in Alex Kerr’s marvellous “Lost Japan”.
Posted by Russ 2002.11.09, 05:16
I’m a new visitor to your Web site.
I have to say if there was one entry that would make me want to return to your Web site it’s this one. I’m totally fascinated and interested in what you have to write.
I hope I’m pleasantly surprised again and again as I read the rest of your entries.
Posted by jh 2002.11.09, 20:47
Christopher — One tsubo can vary to equal between 6.5 × 6.5 or 6.0 × 6.0 shaku (about 4 ~ 3.3 square metres) depending on regional variations. The shaku is a unit just a tiny bit shorter than a foot, so your idea of this is basically right.
Russ — I hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised too. Thanks for reading.
Posted by Dimitri 2002.11.21, 20:32
I particularly liked the kura. I am researching eccentric Japanese architecture and if anyone has info or thoughts to share, i would be very happy if you could contact me. I am writing a book and Japanese architecture will figure in it. thank you Dimitri.
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