UTSUWA Project in YOSINO
UTSUWA Project in YOSINO
［Mooshaus］Old house in Yoshino town,Revitalization demonstration experiment house - Case 1
［Mooshaus］Old house in Yoshino town,Revitalization demonstration experiment house - Case 1
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The “UTSUWA Project,” which started in Osaka in 2015, has been creating UTSUWA 2.0 and 3.0 in Berlin, Germany, since 2020 by a team of Japanese and German craftsmen.
At Expo 2025 OSAKA, we will hold the UTSUWA workshop in collaboration with the German Pavilion.
This year, we are developing a full-scale model house using UTSUWA, based on activities using UTSUWA as a prototype for a Japanese-style room assembly kit.
In Yoshino (Nara Prefecture), the holy land of Japanese forestry, we will renovate an old folk house and allow you to experience the renovation process rather than simply showing you the finished product.
It is a participatory experimental project in which young craftsmen, trainees, and traditional craft enthusiasts from around the world visit to participate in a program of renovation, living, and dwelling.
In addition, as a base for AIR (Artisan in Residence), people who want to learn about Japanese architecture and craftsmanship will gather here to learn and create in real-life settings and interact with local people.
Through the above activities,we aim to create jobs for craftsmen involved in architecture and manufacturing, and to preserve and develop the high-level skills required for ordinary houses, rather than special cultural properties.
①Before Renovation – Exterior View
This is the first model of the “Utsuwa Project in Yoshino”: Mooshaus.
How will this abandoned house be transformed?
②The View from Mooshaus
The Yoshino River flows just in front, and to the right, the sunset sinking behind the railway bridge creates a breathtaking view.
③Mooshaus – The Moss House
When we first visited the site, we found moss growing naturally inside the house.
A surprising sight caused by years of rain leaks, this inspired us to name the house “Mooshaus.”
④Interior During Demolition
The renovation work is progressing alongside demolition and structural investigation.
In addition to termite damage and rot caused by water leaks, we discovered structural damage.
We are now carrying out reinforcement, leveling adjustments, and even unexpected foundation work.
⑤A Showa-Era Building That Reuses Meiji-Era Timber
The current building was completed in 1959 (Showa 34), making it 66 years old. However, the timber was originally taken from a Meiji-era bank and repurposed here.
Throughout the structure, you can find traces of architectural history — from hand-crafted wooden elements to traditional techniques such as splicing and extending the base of wooden pillars.
⑤A Showa-Era Building That Reuses Meiji-Era Timber
The current building was completed in 1959 (Showa 34), making it 66 years old. However, the timber was originally taken from a Meiji-era bank and repurposed here.
Throughout the structure, you can find traces of architectural history — from hand-crafted wooden elements to traditional techniques such as splicing and extending the base of wooden pillars.
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