![]() The further a roof extends out, the more light is blocked. So if the roofs of buildings in Japan were extended far enough to protect the building from the elements, and other engineering marvels like the Engawa helped provide enough ventilation, why did they end up curved? Curved Japanese Roofs Byodo-In Japanese temple in Hawaii (from the best Japanese gardens in America) It’s a great example of bringing the outside in while allowing the building (wood) to get as much ventilation as it needs during all months of the year. The Engawa is another fascinating part of Japanese architecture that allows the building to remain open in the rain or sun without getting too wet or hot. Any time it’s not sheltered, it’s finished so it is able to withstand Japan’s weather and climate. It’s not enclosed but is often sheltered by extended eaves. Engawa Future house? please?…Īn Engawa is an edging around a house that resembles a porch-like structure. While a sloped roof may have sufficed for rain that falls straight down, anytime a small amount of wind accompanied it, the houses would be soaked and eventually damaged. The longer the eaves, the more they protected the house. This would ensure that the elements would have a hard time penetrating the roof and damaging the house. The answer to this was to build extended eaves onto a building. Extended Japanese Roof Eaves Small but extended roof eaves in Higashiyama district, Kyoto So, now we can understand that most buildings in Japan were made from wood, but unless something was engineered to protect it from the elements you’ll end up having houses with extremely short lives. You can expect it to warp, crack, and eventually rot if left to the mercy of Japan’s climate. Unfortunately, wood doesn’t handle getting wet nearly as well as stone or clay does. While wood was readily available and had a number of positives to it, it wasn’t the wonder material it seemed to be. Wood is resistant to earthquakes, and Japan has a lot of those.Wood helped keep things properly ventilated and stopped the build-up of mold as much as possible in Japan’s humid summers.There was a lack of volcanic activity which meant stone was not an abundant material at the time.Other potential reasons that I can’t 100% confirm were specific to their choice were: It was easy to get hold of, cheap, and fantastic to work with. Wood was used as a building material in Japan for a number of reasons. ![]() Why was Wood used as a Building Material so Frequently in Japan? In fact, the oldest wooden building in the world, Hōryū-Ji temple is in Ikaruga, Nara. Many of Japan’s older buildings were made almost entirely of wood. Let’s talk about the three main reasons why many buildings in japan have curved roofs. Kawara (瓦屋根, Traditional Roof Tiles) are often used on eaves to help protect the house from rain. What are Japanese Roofs Called?īefore we learn about why Japanese roofs are curved, it’s important to learn about the type of roof in Japan. ![]() Turns out, the answer is a little more in-depth than I first thought. The main reason Japanese roofs are curved is so they can let as much light into the building as possible and also stop the rain from damaging or coming into the building at the same time.Īs far as I was concerned Japanese roofs were curved up at the edges purely out of aesthetic choice. Since moving to Japan and seeing curved roofs almost everywhere, it got me thinking: Why are Japanese roofs curved? Whenever I used to think about Japan before I moved here, I envisioned large towns with roofs that curved up at the edges, which seemed to make practically any urban area feel like a zen retreat. Perhaps the most synonymous feature of Japanese architectural design is the curved roof. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |