Knowledge on private houses applied to modern architecture

During the recovery period following the war, many standardized houses of thatch and corrugated iron rooves were built. In July of 1949, however, Typhoon Gloria devastated much of the island, after which the US military-backed government promoted the transition toward more solid concrete structures, which subsequently spread to the construction of general housing.

Concrete building robust and resistant against typhoon with high insulation and high airtightness
From the perspective of energy conservation, the lifestyle of traditional Japanese houses is being reconsidered.
A life rooted in the subtropical climate and the housing that supported it

Thermal insulation measures
・Reduce direct heat by using roof tiles, base thatched soil, and bamboo.
・Rain edges and veranda prevent the summer sun from reaching the living room.
・Board walls both inside and outside prevent heat from being transmitted inside.
・The air layer in the exterior walls prevents heat from being transmitted.

The ingenuity of windbreaks
・Windbreaks against typhoons: Yashikikakoi (windbreak forests such as fukugi), hinpun
・Shortening of eaves to avoid being caught by strong winds.

The ingenuity of ventilation
・Summer heat prevention: leaving the south side of the building open to allow the southerly wind to pass through the rain edge and veranda.
・Ventilation holes near the main ridge of the roof [Ichimie, Kukimi].
・Proper ventilation leads to less condensation.