February 2010

Engawa 縁側

日本語   The Engawa is a hallway that runs along the south side  of traditional homes to completely open the home. It allows light into the house, air flow, and a place to sit and enjoy the view.

See house details and pricing at….   Shojiko High Village House

Oni

日本語    The Oni ridge cap on classic Japanese houses is more than ornamental.  They act like gargoyles to keep away bad spirits and protect the home.  In these restoration photos you can see the original thatched roof under the steel roof which provides 30 inches of insulation.  We also added insulation to the walls, vapor barrier, double pane windows and cedar siding on the outside.      See house details and pricing at….   Shojiko High Village House  

Wind Powered Shipping

Free trade is bringing us cheap products from around the world and allowing diverse economies to interact with each area drawing on their own specialities.  But it is not really free when you consider the fuel cost and CO2 production involved in trans-oceanic shipping.  Take pickles; cucumbers grown in China and vinegar made in Japan are shipped to the Phillipenes to be made into pickles which are then shipped back to Japan to sell in supermarkets.  One little cucumber travels 4000miles!  A number of companies have began using enormous kites to pull the ships.  SkySails of Germany has begun producing these sail for commercial shipping, and it seems to be taking off.

the S.S. Highball

Why spend millions and build a ship that can be sunk by an iceberg when you can just sail the iceberg itself? Back in 1997 Professor Patrick Quilty propsed putting a huge plastic bag around an iceberg and towing it Africa as a source of fresh drinking water.  We are proposing, rather than tow it, why not sail it? Most of the movement of ice bergs is due to currents not wind, but a little nudge into the right current might get it moving in the right direction.  And with recent developments in kite powered ships, this may be a viable option.

和様玄関 Japanese Farm Home Entrance

日本語 We retained and restored the original massive beams of the house, but added glass in all the right places to light the interior and showcase the structure.  Here the “genkan” entrance was pushed out 3 feet to accommodate a larger area for coming in out of the rain and taking off your shoes.  The kitchen sunroom faces south over the gardens.

See house details and pricing at….   Shojiko High Village House