11/13/2023 0 Comments Roof japanese![]() Some of these houses are more than 200 years old. Shirakawa-go’s thatched houses are built in the gassho style, which is typical of the Chubu region. ![]() Japanese “Gassho” Thatched Roof Architecture Inspired by Praying Hands The Shiroyama Observatory (城山展望台) in the mountains west of Shirakawa-go offers a sweeping view of the village in winter. Hakusan at an elevation of 2,700 meters to the west. The riverside community lives harmoniously with the mountains, protected by the sacred Mt. But Shirakawa-go is marvelous in all four seasons: in spring, it wakes up to the song of cicadas and colorful blossoms in summer, its vegetation and rice paddies melt into lush greenery in autumn, the fields and pampas grass take on beige and golden hues.ĭespite its natural beauty and deep history, Shirakawa-go is not just an ethnographic museum but an active village with living traditions upheld by its native residents. As the silent snow settles on pointed roofs and barren fields, the hamlet transforms into a winter wonderland from a distant era. ![]() The farms and thatched houses are built to resist the heavy snowfall of harsh winters in this alpine region. Shirakawa-go’s climate changes radically from summer to winter. Walking through the village, I heard nothing but gurgling water and the murmuring breeze. Rainbow trout live in the canals and help keep the water clean. In particular, the canals protect the village from fires and carry water to the households. The Sho River (庄川) runs through Shirakawa-go, and the thatched houses are separated by rice paddies, vegetable gardens and canals. This is necessary to melt the snow in winter, keep the thatch dry and durable, and protect the houses from strong winds blowing north-south during the typhoon season in Japan. Their steeply sloped thatched roofs are oriented east-west to maximize their exposure to sunlight. In this narrow mountain valley, the houses are built in harmony with nature. They stand alongside running streams, a rice granary, and small shrines that compose a charming rural landscape. Some are shops, guest houses, or traditional craft museums. The old houses of Shirakawa-go have thick thatched roofs. Shirakawa-go, an Alpine Village in a Living Landscape Take a moment to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere under a thatched roof, and spend the night in the stillness of the mountains, listening to the elements of nature around the crackling fire of a sunken hearth. Shirakawa-go’s 1,600 residents continue to live a traditional way of life that may soon disappear. Nestled in the lush mountains of Gifu prefecture, the village is famous for its traditional thatched roof houses, about a hundred of which still stand in the hamlet of Ogimachi (荻町). From above, the open-air garden courtyard functions as the home’s centerpiece and the point where the three structural volumes meet, offering an outdoor leisure area where the home’s guests can come together and spend time in nature.ĭesigner: Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS)įour Leaves Villa’s floor plan reveals the three structural volumes without their roofs and the garden courtyard that functions as their centerpiece.Ever since the remote village of Shirakawa-go (白川郷) was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, it has been a top destination in Japan’s Chubu region. The interior living, dining, and sleeping spaces are split between three interconnected structural volumes placed on site amongst a preexisting lot of trees. A series of wooden joists are exposed on the ceiling highlighting the dynamic spatial characters of each living space.” Where the roof inclines outside, the interior ceiling, lined with exposed wooden beams, reaches lofty heights.ĭescribing the roof in their own words, KIAS notes, “Every roof has been designed as a Ruled Surface in which straight Laminated Veneer Lumber joists are arranged continuously to form an organic geometry. The constructional combination of a concave and convex roof makes for a dynamic interior volume. The gently twisted roofs also provide plenty of overhangs to brace guests against the blaze of sun rays. Then, the bedrooms are posed west to catch views of the forest’s dense brushwood that provides a sense of privacy during the day and coziness at night. The living and dining areas face southeast to collect pools of natural sunlight, brightening each room during the day for meals and social gatherings.
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