Sumi-An: Charcoal Hut

Institute of Science Tokyo Yoshiharu Tsukamoto.Lab

Outline: Renovation of a warehouse built on a site with a slope leading south to a charcoal burning shack and northeast to lemon groves and terraced rice paddies. We also constructed an earth retaining wall and log staircase on the slope. The northeast corner of the building was opened up with a transparent polycarbonate corrugated door and a single sliding door to provide a view to the terraced rice fields. Charcoal from the charcoal-making hut was spread under the floor to reduce humidity, and charcoal powder was mixed with the clay walls and persimmon tannin coating on the floor to create a hermitage surrounded by charcoal.

Location