Kominka Collective: Reclaimed and Rebuilt Japanese Folk Houses

Kominka Forum Beams

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Enjoy the gentle elegance of a Japanese timber frame studio, cottage, or house - and help preserve kominka and irreplaceable old wood and other materials.

While traditional Japanese folk houses are widely appreciated for their beautiful aesthetic and for the skill with which they were built, many of these extraordinary structures are being torn down and incinerated.

This is an immeasurable loss, and it is our mission to protect, preserve, and reconstruct Japanese folk houses for the sake of future generations.

The Kominka Collective was conceived as a way to share traditional Japanese folk houses with people outside of Japan, not as museum pieces, but as places to live, gather, and work – and in so doing to give these beautiful old houses a second life.

We work with Toda Komuten of Shinshiro Japan to make reclaimed and restored Japanese kominka and traditional Japanese building techniques, materials, fixtures, and furnishings accessible to people outside Japan. We are not-for-profit company.

Toda Komuten, a longtime advocate for folk house preservation in Japan, disassembles kominka which are in very good condition but are going to be demolished and rebuilds them for use as homes, studios, home offices, community centers, cafes, and shops.

We use old materials from reclaimed kominka together with new materials to create extraordinary spaces with the aims of

protecting and preserving

kominka frames and irreplaceable old wood, and other materials

creating opportunities to live, gather, and work in Japanese timber frame structures

maintaining a traditional aesthetic while creating

energy-efficient spaces

sharing

information about Japanese built heritage and traditional building techniques

See more about our mission

Flexibilty in size and design

Kominka Studios are 2oo sq. ft. - perfect for use as a studio, home office, family room, or quiet space.

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Kominka ADU Cottages are 800 sq. ft. or less - perfect for use as a small home, shop, or guest cottage.

See more about kominka ADU cottages

Kominka Houses are 2,000 sq. ft. or less - perfect for use as a home, shop, or guest cottage.

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The word kominka refers to houses built at least 50 years ago and in particular to those built before the Taisho Period. Komika were constructed with high-quality local wood, including zelkova, sakura, chestnut, and cypress.

These structures are characterized by traditional Japanese timber framing using broad beams and posts, ceramic tiled roofs, and a rustic yet elegant beauty.

Japanese timber framing, used for wooden construction in temples, shrines, and folk houses, has many advantages, including strength, durability, and maintainability - as well as its elegant appearance.

See more about kominka