Kyo-machiya, Kyoto town house, is traditional townhouses of the city's merchants usually with two floors. With its characteristic appearance consist of Koshi (lattice) and mushikomado (literally insect cage window) of the upper floor, Kyo-machiyas had constructed harmonious beauty in Kyoto. We can see them in Gion area and can image how Kyoto was used to be. Kyo-machiya is famous of small front and deep depth, typically 5.4 meter wide and 20 meter deep, and popularly called "eel's bed". As homes were taxed according to the extent of the street frontage, this design came from economic necessity.
Tsubo-niwa (3.3 sq meter garden) often located in house and it made house comfortable not only through it aesthetic reflection of nature but also bringing light and air in. Because of big difference between humid subtropical-like summer and freezing cold winter, sliding doors and partitions are made removable and completely replaced each season. On the eve of the Gion Festival in July, front lattice of machiya in central Kyoto are removed and they display there treasures like folding screen, rugs and other items for appreciation by festival visitors and also for airing after the rainy season.
Small but built by the workmanship of experienced builders, Kyo-machiya reflects aesthetic feeling in tea ceremony or zen gardens and comfortable designs had developed through long history of Kyoto.By T.S. on 26th Jun., 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment