In Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita Prefecture, there are huts with walls earth-stone masonry walls have been identified. In this study, the purpose and composition of the huts were investigated in order to clarify the architectural characteristics of the huts with earth-stone masonry walls.
We conducted interviews and measured surveys. As a result, the following was found.
(1) Many of the huts in the target area were built as places to raise livestock for farming, and even today, traces of waterers for livestock and mortise holes for fences can be seen in some of the huts. Since the middle of the Showa period (1926-1989), livestock have no longer been kept in the sheds, and their use has changed to storage. The spaces where the livestock spent their time needed to be well ventilated and comfortable, indicating the importance they placed on the livestock for farming.
(2) All of the huts were built by owners before the previous generation, and in some cases the year of construction was more than 70 years ago or more than 100 years ago.
(3) In some cases, the construction of the huts was done in collaboration with local residents, in addition to professional craftsmen.
(4) The structure of the huts was classified into three categories: (a) wooden structure, (b) masonry structure, and (c) mixed structure, based on the percentage of earth-stone masonry walls out of the total wall volume and whether or not the walls support the load of the roof. As a result, wooden structures were the most common, and masonry and mixed structures were the least common. In relation to the region, wooden structures were most common in Kitsuki City and Kunisaki City, while masonry and mixed structures were most common in Bungotakada City.
(5) The piles of earth and stones ranged from those with more stones and less earth to those with fewer stones and more earth. In the case of stone-heavy piles, the earth played a strong role as a joint material, and in the case of earth-heavy piles, it is possible that the earth was also used as a wall material.