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Classroom Spotlight April 5, 2023

BDS 9th Grade Students Visit the ‘Shofuso’ House in Philadelphia

Happy Spring Break! A group of BDS 9th graders joined the BDS Community School Site Specialist on an exploration of the Japanese Shofuso House in Philadelphia on Saturday, and they had an AMAZING experience. Shofuso is a 17th century-style Japanese house, designed by Japanese mid-century modernist architect Junzo Yoshimura in 1953. It was built in Nagoya, […]

Happy Spring Break! A group of BDS 9th graders joined the BDS Community School Site Specialist on an exploration of the Japanese Shofuso House in Philadelphia on Saturday, and they had an AMAZING experience.

Shofuso is a 17th century-style Japanese house, designed by Japanese mid-century modernist architect Junzo Yoshimura in 1953. It was built in Nagoya, Japan, using traditional materials and techniques. The house was brought over to the United States, and then moved to Philadelphia in 1957.  In 1958, the garden was redesigned by Japanese landscape designer Tansai Sano to compliment the new structure in the style of a 17th century viewing garden.

When one of the site docents learned our students were from the Baltimore Design School, he was excited to introduce himself as an architectural historian. Jon took time to explain that the house was built with timber from the Hinoki Cypress tree, a slow growing tree prized for its oil, anti-fungal and insect repelling properties and as well as its natural patina.

The wood that frames the Shofuso house is now over 100 years old (and is gorgeous!).  The joinery is traditional Japanese Shosimono, a technique using various wood joints without the use of nails or hardware.  Mortises called ‘hozo’ are carved into the wood in order to join two boards in a blind joint that’s not visible from the surface.

This joinery is not only extremely sturdy and beautiful, but the technique used in constructing the foundation of the home makes it extremely stable during the earthquakes that Japan is prone to.

There are iron ornaments throughout the structure which look like they could be fasteners.  Jon explained that iron was a sign of wealth, and families and businesses would display iron elementals throughout the building…the more decorations…the wealthier the family or business.

Iron is also displayed with the use of iron gutters and rain chains that direct water to a rock garden or water structure. These luxuries aren’t common in every home.

The roof of the house is constructed from the bark of the Hinoki tree and makes for a long-lasting and well-insulating structure.  The original roof was constructed in 1953, and it wasn’t until 2017 that parts of the roof needed updating.  The process was really interesting and can be viewed in this 2017 blog entry from the Rikumo Journal.

We asked Jon about how the open house with sliding doors could withstand the winter season and climate change, and he explained that it’s extremely hardy and perfectly design for climate change.  The sliding doors that are used during the warmer months are swapped out for heavier wooden doors. Cooking was done within the home, which helped to heat it. Also, family members tended to down-size into a few main rooms to keep close to the heat.

‘Ajiro Tenjo’ is a term for wickerstyle ceiling.  Bamboo strips are woven in a variety of patterns (depending on the preferred design) to create a 3D effect in the home.  Judging from the size of this 1953 example, our 9th graders wouldn’t have much room to grow!

In the warmer months, the lighter doors were swapped in.  The cooking area also has an exterior door for easy of entry, but also to direct heat in or away from the house.  There are many ways the Japanese designed homes to adapt to the weather, which is similar to Maryland in many parts, but less humid.  For example, the house is designed to harness the breeze using a blueprint that results in natural ventilation called the Venturi Effect.

Outdoor access from the kitchen.
“Internationally-acclaimed  nihon-ga painter,  Hiroshi Senju, one of Japan’s most revered contemporary artists, created twenty full-scale murals for Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. The murals were installed on decorative paper sliding doors known as fusuma, and in the central tokonoma alcove, replacing the original murals destroyed by vandals in the 1970s.” – Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia

Surrounding the house are multiple access points to beautiful gardens and water.  This porch captured a lovely cool breeze on such a warm day.

Another technique that is conducive to climate change is the gardening technique Komomaki, where trees are wrapped using straw to protect from the winter elements.  Research
has found however that the use of this technique also keeps sap-sucking insects at bay, further protecting precious trees during warmer months.


The tour ended at the gift shop where students received ‘Daruma Dolls’.  These figures were symbolic of good luck/good favor charms many moons ago.  Today, they’re a cute token of a wonderful day spent.

Oh!  Not to leave out…students were treated to a ‘traditional-ish’ Japanese breakfast for youth:  fish, rice, fruit, meat and Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)

Ps:
Philly has amazing architecture, murals and art culture and…home to the best falafel, shwarma fries & tahina shakes anywhere!