Abstract
This survey, following the previous studies, aims to clarify systematically the development of farmhouses in the Hokuriku regions, from the period of the feudal clans when the farmhouses were originated up to today. This year, we studied farmhouses in Ishikawa Prefecture which can be categorized in two groups according to regions, Kaga and Noto, and each region has a variety of forms. That means there is a complicated distribution. In this survey, we tried to classify farmhouses according to regulation on forms and to the process of development by studying samples of plans and structure plans. Floor plans change widely' according to eras and social stratum in each region while there are relatively steady changes in structural techniques which can be an effective tool for classifying types of farm houses. The results of our study in the past three years can be summarized as following;
1. The distribution of types of farmhouses in the Hokuriku region is complicated but we succeeded in classifying the houses by clarifying characteristics of each type and the process of development.
2. Farmhouses have made the development mainly in the space for guests and enriched, Zashiki, and in the space for daily use, Doma. Some principles are found on the planning of farmhouses, however, the plans vary accordingly to the position of an entrance/exit of the house; to which direction an access of the house located, a gabled front, or not.
3. Basic standard of living of dwellers, their vision of housing as well as tradition itself are the factors that affect the development of farmhouses. And there is a close relation between restrictive conditions of construction techniques and the development of floor plans. When the construction techniques became free from restrictive conditions, farmhouses began to enjoy an extensive freedom in planning.
4. Farmhouses went through a further change after 1960's when a space for farm work was separated from a living domain to outside. The space for daily use has been separated from the space for guests and enriched. And a new type of farmhouses has been being set up, though some traditional aspects are still alive.
