Re-thatching completed at the K Residence, Kita, Miyama.

【Project Overview】

■ Project Name

Re-thatching of K Residence, Kitamiyama, Miyama Town

■ Location

Miyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture

■ Duration

About one month

■ Description

Re-thatching from the southern large room up to the Arigoshi section, and the eastern and western gables.

■ Staff Comment

This project took place within the traditional thatched-roof village known as Kayabuki no Sato, a designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Thatched houses in Miyama follow the Kitayama style, characterized by Chigi—forked wooden ornaments called Uma-nori on top of the hip-and-gable roofs—and an additional wooden feature called Yuki-wari (snow-splitter) above them.
For this re-thatching, we replaced the lower sections below the deteriorated Arigoshi, carefully connecting the new thatch to the upper, existing roof structure.

The client had stored a large amount of thatch in their attic, a clear sign of their deep affection and commitment to thatched roofing in daily life. I approached the work with great care, hoping to honor that sentiment as much as possible.

The site was warm and encouraging—during our breaks, the client often brought us drinks and snacks and regularly checked in on our progress. Their kindness and attentiveness were truly motivating.

The eastern side of the roof we re-thatched had been originally done by our master craftsman about 25 years ago. The way the thatch had naturally weathered over the years was exceptionally beautiful—an ideal example of graceful aging. Being able to witness and learn from the craftsmanship firsthand was an invaluable experience.

The work period included a national holiday, so we paid special attention to scheduling and scaffolding placement to minimize disruption to the client’s daily life. There was pressure to complete roof sealing before the holiday, which made the pace demanding—but that also brought a deep sense of accomplishment once completed.

As we work to preserve this village's landscape and support the lives of its residents, I hope to continue facing each project with care, intention, and pride.