The Design of Horikawa Gojo

Koushi

"Koushi" are an integral piece of all Kyomachiya townhouses.

Battari Shogi

The retractable “battari shogi” out front is only unfolded when in use.

Inuyarai

The “inuyarai” are short-arched fences that create a partition between the building and the street while also protecting the walls from mud and dirt

Mushikomado

The “mushikomado” is a plaster-covered window used on the second floor for ventilation and natural lighting.

Shoki

The “Shoki” is a statue placed just under a building’s eaves to protect the home from disaster and harm

Hibukuro

The open clearing left above the kitchen area is called the “hibukuro” in Kyoto townhouses.

Stairway

Making use of the space underneath the stairway is also a machiya custom.

Ajiro Tenjo (Wickerwork Ceiling)

The ajiro ceiling is made by weaving together strips of cedar

Tori-niwa

The tori-niwa is a hallway leading from the entrance of the building to the very back of the townhouse, and a rare indoor area where shoes are allowed.

Lobby

The lobby is a place to relax while taking in the adorable and carefully pruned Japanese garden

Hifumi-Ishi (One, Two, Three Stones)

“Hi, fu, mi”, or “one, two, three”, refers to a specific placement of stones which are embedded into the floor in groups of one, two, and three.

Tsuridoko

The “tokonoma” is a recessed space in Japanese rooms typically used to display seasonal flowers and kakejiku (tapestries).The “tsuridoko” is a simplified form of the the “tokonoma”.

Shoin

The “shoin”, or study, is a type of decorative space similar to a bay window built next to the “tokonoma”. The room also faces outdoors.

The Garden and Tsuboniwa (Courtyard)

The garden and tsuboniwa (courtyard) are small sanctuaries of nature built into the Kyomachiya building.