The Way In

Eaves and Gables

Both of these buildings stand close to the eastern shore of the Noto Peninsula.  Although they are not of any great age, they are both traditional in style and thoroughly Japanese in construction and layout.  There is nothing eclectic about them.  While they both follow regional patterns of vernacular architecture they have individual characters.  Their individuality is partly determined by where the main entrance is located relative to the roof.

Although both entrances are off centre, the building standing by a river sports a well defined and decorated entrance to the left of the facade.  The entrance of the other house is located to the right of the facade and is inconspicuous.  It is, however, recessed.  Doing so provides some shelter from rain and snow for those entering and leaving the building.

Despite having a rather characterless entrance, the wall under the gable end of the roof is full of character—the horizontal and vertical elements stand out against the areas of white wall between them and the lean-to at ground level is capped with a tiled roof as are the windows on the upper floor.  All of these features contribute greatly to the character of the building.

The ground floor lean-to is, in fact, a covered veranda, where washing can be hung to dry.  The generous eave of this roof helps to protect the veranda when the glass screens are drawn back to let in some air during the hot humid summer months.  The ground glass in the sliding screens provides some privacy and is augments by more shoji screens covered with paper flanking the rooms behind.

The building by the river, however, relies on the small hip-and-gable roof over the entrance, thus strengthen the character of the whole facade.

There is in fact another entrance to the left of the projecting, grand main entrance.  I can only suppose this side entrance functions as a backdoor, somewhere for the family to come and go as they please.

Both of these houses have shared features as well as exclusive characteristics.  But it is the positioning of their entrances—either under the eaves or under a gable—that is the key to how the plan develops internally.

Bill Tingey Photo © Copyright

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Eclectic Developments

Hiding behind this European sash window is the plastered door of a Japanese style storehouse.  The weather boarding is done in a Japanese way and may actually be protecting a plastered wall.  The sum total is an eclectic mix.

Mixing Styles

Not long after arriving in Japan and starting my studies in architectural history at Tokyo University of Art and Music, I was taught the word wayosecchu (和洋折衷).  Literally it means a mix of Western and Japanese styles.  It is often used with reference to buildings combining indigenous architectural elements with some stylistic features of Western architecture.  Many of these buildings date from the latter part of the eighteenth century, although the style persisted well into the middle of the twentieth century.

This building in Wajima appears to be a good example of how Western architectural features were handled by Japanese designers or house carpenters.  The style of sash windows could quite easily be from the United States or Europe.  But, if we look more closely, beyond the glass there is a very traditional Japanese style storehouse within.

In the past timber-frame storehouses with heavily plastered walls became one way merchants tried to protect their valuable goods from being consumed by fire, which was endemic—urban conglomerations of wooden buildings were so vulnerable especially during the winter months when humidity levels are low and seasonal winds can fan the flames.

A simple country style storehouse with a mud and straw daub over what could be a bamboo wattle and a structural timber framework.  The walls need protection and the gable end of the roof is unusually deep for that reason.  The plastic lean-to is of course a modern addition.

In the countryside farmers had to make do with mud wall storehouse.  Thick plastered walls were beyond their budget.

It was in the big cities that such storehouses were common and it was there, too, that status could be emphasised by incorporating Western architectural feature.  This was also true of the interiors of such buildings.

This eclectic mix of styles was something of a compromise or a transitional phase of development of Japanese architecture.

Many examples of this eclectic style of building can be seen all over Japan but this example in Wajima is pretty much unique.  A traditional plaster-walled storehouse cocooned within a building boasting features that originated far across the sea.

Bill Tingey Photo © Copyright

Do feel free to pass on the address of this blog to anyone you think will be interested.  Or share it on a social media site.  Should you wish to leave a comment, please do so by clicking on the comment mark at the bottom left of this or any of the other posts.   If you have found this blog interesting, why not become a follower.  Thank you.