The Layouts behind Japanse Architecture 2.0

Here we go. Part 2 of Japanese architecture. Japanese Houses specifically Kyoto. Take the form of an elongated structure, with little width. This stems from the country's history and economical laws of taxation. Which increased depending on the width of the structures.

*image of traditional Kyoto houses in street view

This interesting fact is one of the reasons, for instigating the principle of a 'Journey' in the Kyoto house. As you enter the house, the layout mimics a journey with the different rooms being various pathways. Within these pathways, courtyards and gardens filled with traditional Japanese trees are inserted. to infuse nature into the structure.

Another feature, customer to the Japanese tradition is the rebound curved roofs. Made from various materials based on region or period.

*Own drawings of traditional Kyoto house plan & Traditional Kyoto Roofs.

The Kyoto Houses express 'sukiya', a rustic simplicity, with natural shapes & geometrical patterns, and an organic connection between building & space.

'There is no distance between the material of kyo-machiya and natural things like flowers, dust, and wind.'

The Kyoto contains natural materials such as:

• Timber - is used for its ability to absorb moisture with the advantage of building traditional Japanese buildings without nails and developing strong earthquake resistance.

• Bamboo - used both for decorative and functional purposes with the function of preventing excess heat inside and also offering greater ventilation and the decoration being the material's raw beauty with its knots and smooth surface.

• Rice Straw - used for Tatami mats often used to cover the floor in Japan’s interiors

• Washi paper sheets - are the main component in the beauty and atmosphere of the Japanese interior allowing different levels of light to enter the structure, whilst adding a touch of nature to its appearance.

*Process of building a wooden Kyoto House

References

Travel, J. W. (2021, May 18). 7 Unique Elements of Japanese Traditional Architecture. Japan Wonder Travel Blog. Retrieved April 29, 2022, from https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/japanese-architecture-22639#:%7E:text=%207%20Unique%20Elements%20of%20Japanese%20Traditional%20Architecture,used%20to%20be%20a%20standard%20fixture. . .%20More%20

Metalkova-Markova, M. (2022). Outline of Japanese Residential architecture [Slides]. University of Portsmouth. https://moodle.port.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/3092288/mod_resource/content/1/Milena%20-%20Japanese%20Architecture_default.mp4

Street View of Kyoto Houses. (n.d.). [Photograph]. NPSA. https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.BFYYeIwxOx8PH_bHerflqgHaE8?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

Materials | Traditional Kyoto. (n.d.). Traditional Kyoto. Retrieved April 30, 2022, from https://traditionalkyoto.com/architecture/materials/

How to build a wooden house. (n.d.). [Illustation]. Traditional Kyoto. https://traditionalkyoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20090808-architecture-JNTO-a_05.gif