2011-06-17

ストローベイルハウスin軽井沢 Straw Bale Home in Karuizawa

June 16-17 continued work on Tetsu and Yukiko Ito's straw bale home in Karuizawa.
Truth Window
The blue door covers a window through which the straw can be seen.

2011-06-15

岐阜県 塩月邸 ストローベイルハウス Straw Bale Home in Gifu-Prefecture

June 14-15 visited Shiotsuki-san in Gifu-Prefecture. Shiotsuki-san is currently building a straw bale home. Interesting foundation detail. Shiotsuki-san intends to attach metal lath at the bottom of the bale wall and plaster with mud. For further details, please see Shiotsuki-san's blog: ストローベイルハウスで里山に住みたい!

2011-06-12

美山町の萱葺き職人 Thatch Roofers in Miyama, Kyoto

On June 12, I had the opportunity to interpret for a couple of thatch roofers, Shiozawa-san and Nakano-san. During the morning session, Shiozawa-san taught students from the US about the knots and tools used to thatch roofs in Japan. Nakano-san created a model roof and demonstrated how materials are used.
In the afternoon, Nakano-san spoke about the roofs he's thatched, many of which are cultural heritage sites. Shiosawa-san spoke about the greater ecological and social significance of thatch roofing in Japan.
Nakano-san making a bamboo needle used to thatch roofs

Storage of reeds and grasses used for thatching
Further details can be found at the following websites:
Shiozawa-san's homepage: http://www.kayabuki-ya.net
Nakano-san's homepage: http://www.cans.zaq.ne.jp/miyama-kayabuki/

2011-06-08

Architectural Heritage Preservation in Japan

June 9-14 helped interpret for a group of University students and professors studying architectural heritage preservation in Japan. As a part of the course, students spent one week in Miyama (京都府美山町), known for its thatch roofs. Ozeki-san a Japanese timber framer, helped organize the Miyama portion of the course. Ozeki-san standing in the guesthouse and cafe he built. This building features various interior finishes plastered by some of Japan's most renowned plasterers.