If nothing else, an Engawa acts as a beautiful veranda that can be enjoyed by its owners. Not only constructed for the enjoyment and protection from the outdoor elements, but also used in a more traditional sense as a divider between the exterior and interior of the Shoji. EngawaĪs you’ll see on the majority of Minka’s, a fully functional, wrap-around hallway of sorts. Instead of diffusing light, a Fusuma allows for a practical, functional, and totally customizable way to transform a space. FusumaĪnother common feature of traditional Japanese homes is Fusuma’s, another type of sliding wall. This not only provides homes with a customizable space but also a means of enjoying natural light without the excessive brightness one would experience through a typical glass window.Ī Shoji as a sliding panel or wall can be found in both the interior and exterior of a traditional Minka. Common Features of Traditional Japanese Housing ShojiĪ Shoji is, at its most basic, a sliding wall of sorts, constructed with translucent paper instead of window glass. Locals living in Minka’s also tend to choose furniture with intention rather than just aesthetic appeal. One example of this would be utilizing large glass walls to allow for natural lighting instead of investing in many unnecessary light fixtures. This leads us to the second primary purpose of traditional Japanese housing: functionality and practicality.īy maximizing the space and constructing implements that act as dual-purpose furniture pieces, Minka’s are able to act not only as a comfortable living space but also as a functional and practical living space. This is largely why Minka’s are designed with easily replaceable materials and dual-functional housing structures such as sliding walls to optimize the smaller space that they’re working with. Not only is space maximization imperative to living in a large, crowded country like Japan, especially within the major cities, but it’s also a nod to the morality of Japanese culture always striving for minimalistic living, hence the down-sized, yet fully optimized living spaces. Aside from its original roots in history and culture, the Minka has the primary intention of maximizing space and promoting functionality and practicality within the living space. There are several unique features of traditional Japanese housing, it’s important to understand why they’re designed the way that they are. It goes without saying that traditional Japanese housing is absolutely stunning a true work of art and architecture. In what follows, we’ll discuss the several unique features exclusive to traditional Japanese housing, its purpose, and its history of why the said feature was first implemented. With that said, Japanese design and architecture have become a popular trend in recent years in the western world, with more and more individuals emulating their homes after the Minka tradition. Not only does the design of a traditional Minka take into consideration the genuine charm but also the functionality of everyday life, but now and for future reconstruction.īecause of this unique approach, there are several features exclusive to Japanese housing that you wouldn’t otherwise recognize in western architecture. Unlike many common living spaces in the west, traditional Japanese housing takes a slightly different approach. Traditional Machiya Japanese houses in the Gion district, Kyoto Blending modern trends with traditional nods to Japanese culture, the style of these Japanese houses is simply stunning. This traditional style of Japanese housing, otherwise known as Minka, is a mastery of architecture. When you think of a traditional Japanese house, you likely picture the embodiment of authentic Japanese architecture typically seen in the movies. Japanese residential structures (Minka) are categorized into four kinds of housing before the modern versions of Japanese homes. The Ultimate Guide to Traditional Japanese Housing
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