Kosendo has several features of Kyo-machiya design.
The old signboard tells her name [Kosendo], and Ko means light, sen means inmortal, and do means cave. The sounds came from old imperial garden in Kyoto. The house has her name based on the old idea of utopia in the oriental busy city.

Many old logs were used in the first construction in Meiji period, 1905. This house reconstructed 2 times after that. Once remodeled in about 1930, and second remodeled in 1995. The appearance or space had not changed.

Kyo-machiya features

Zusi dukuri

The low ceiling of the 2nd floor.
Beautiful and well-balanced front door.

Ichimonnji-kawara

Line of a straight tile.
The purpose of arranging rows of stores and houses on a street in order.

Musiko-mado

Ventilation, lighting and Crime prevention is important for the city house.

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Noren

Noren is a symbol of each shop. It means "welcome sign" and its name, so is a boundary fence to street too. Hiroko Hayashi, our designer drew the sign.

Tatami-komado

This is a old show window with tatami-mat. We keep here flowers or green.

Kyo andon

Paper-covered lamp made of the bamboo craft. Taisho-period made, and it was the modern time when electricity operated.

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Yukimi-shoji

Kosedo has several screens in old Kyoto style. These movable screens separate each space in house. Yukimi means "you may enjoy snow from inside room".
A thin grid is one of the features of Kyo-Machiya.

The front window

This front window can be used in two ways, one is for light and wind and the other is for load carriage entrance.

Hori-kanban(Old waterwheel board used)

Old name of Kosedo is curved in this signboard.

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Mune: The ridge structure

We see the structure under roof on the second floor and notice that old logs were reused even in 1900's.

Hasiri-niwa

Kitchen galley is used as inside garden utility. It was separated from tatami space.

Stairs

Stairs area is hidden by door screen.

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Koma-yose

These bars are barrier to street and they symbolize the horse hitched place.
Koma is horse.

Tubo-niwa

The small garden in the middle or inside of the house is called Tubo-niwa.
Tubo means a pot or one tatami mat space. Trees, stones, and the sun light are their elements.

Tomo-machi

The small bench seat is set in front area of the house. Tomo means a servant or a driver.
A space is prepared to wait the master who visit the house.

A thesis