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The Hinoki File

Woods, joints and old houses, kept on file

HS 4 records · Latest record

Old Houses

Kominka, beams and the houses that keep them

HS-004HS-001HS-002

The interior of a kominka farmhouse with dark massive beams and a central pillar, a sunken hearth square in the floor, smoke-darkened rafters above.
Plate HS-004 The interior of a kominka farmhouse with dark massive beams and a central pillar, a sunken hearth square in the floor, smoke-darkened rafters above.

The tally of the slice

4The rack
  1. The interior of a kominka farmhouse with dark massive beams and a central pillar, a sunken hearth square in the floor, smoke-darkened rafters above.
    HS-004

    The irori: fire sunk in the floor

    Explains the irori's construction, its functions beyond heating, and why the fixture declined through the twentieth century.

    Particulars
    Old Houses · 781 words · 2 sources
    Caveat
    this record cites only en.wikipedia.org

  2. The interior of a kominka farmhouse with dark massive beams and a central pillar, a sunken hearth square in the floor, smoke-darkened rafters above.
    HS-001

    The anatomy of a kominka

    Explains the main members and layout of a kominka and what to look at first.

    Particulars
    Old Houses · 608 words · 2 sources
    Caveat
    this record cites only japan.travel, en.wikipedia.org

  3. A polished dark wood engawa veranda running along the side of an old house, sliding panels open to a moss garden, late afternoon light.
    HS-002

    The engawa edge

    Explains what an engawa is and what it does for the house it borders.

    Particulars
    Old Houses · 597 words · 2 sources
    Caveat
    this record cites only en.wikipedia.org, japan.travel

  4. A stack of dark reclaimed beams in a salvage yard, end grain visible, old mortise pockets and peg holes showing, a hand checking one end.
    HS-003

    Reading a reclaimed beam

    Explains how to assess a reclaimed timber beam before buying it.

    Particulars
    Old Houses · 577 words · 2 sources
    Caveat
    this record cites only fpl.fs.usda.gov, en.wikipedia.org