New Life for Aging Materials: Ryokan Yamazaki in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The regeneration of the Ryokan Yamazaki inn, on the Echizen coast in Fukui Prefecture, demonstrates how traditional timber architecture can provide a technically robust and culturally meaningful alternative to deteriorating reinforced concrete in a harsh coastal environment. The project applied the Kominka Saisei methodology, developed by the Furihata Architectural Design Office: meticulous dismantling, relocation, and reconstruction of a 120-year-old timber farmhouse from the Hokuriku region. Original materials and architectural elements were preserved wherever possible and integrated with existing structures to create a setting for hospitality. Beyond extending a building’s lifespan, the project illustrates how the adaptive reuse of vernacular architecture can reaffirm regional identity, preserve traditional craftsmanship, and enrich the experience of a place through the qualities of aged timber.
Authors: Hironobu Furihata, Justin Tsai
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7225831308
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: