New Life for Aging Materials: Ryokan Yamazaki in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture

Abstract

The regeneration of the Ryokan Yamazaki inn, on the Echizen coast in Fukui Prefecture, demonstrates how traditional timber architecture can provide a technically robust and culturally meaningful alternative to deteriorating reinforced concrete in a harsh coastal environment. The project applied the Kominka Saisei methodology, developed by the Furihata Architectural Design Office: meticulous dismantling, relocation, and reconstruction of a 120-year-old timber farmhouse from the Hokuriku region. Original materials and architectural elements were preserved wherever possible and integrated with existing structures to create a setting for hospitality. Beyond extending a building’s lifespan, the project illustrates how the adaptive reuse of vernacular architecture can reaffirm regional identity, preserve traditional craftsmanship, and enrich the experience of a place through the qualities of aged timber.