Traditional Farmhouses as Local Cultural Resources and their Renovations

Abstract

Some of Japanese traditional farmhouses (minka) have been renovated since 1970's and this architectural activity is called “ko-minka saisei” in Japanese. These renovations have 3 points in common as follows. The first is the compatibility of amenity of life and aesthetics of architectural style. The second is thorough repair works that include the dissolution of all architectural members and the relaying of groundwork. The last is relocating to remote places and reconstruction. It is to be hoped that these renovations will diffuse in farm villages although they are not familiar yet.