A STUDY OF NIIGATA PREFECTURE “SEGAI” STYLE “MACHIYA” HOUSE SYSTEMS

Comparison of shapes of Segai-style houses beside Shinano river, Agano river and Japan sea coast

Abstract

"Machiya" houses in the "segai-style", which is characterized by its use of cantilevers as the ceiling beams to hold the roof, can be seen all over Niigata Prefecture. "Machiya" houses in the Shinano and Agano river basins and on the Japan Sea coast were examined and house systems and their use of interior space investigated. "Segai-style" houses were consequently divided into four groups according to defferences in details: houses on Sado Island; houses downstream on the Shinano and Agano rivers; houses midstream on the Shinano river; houses upstream on the Shinano river and on the Japan Sea coast.