Pit house drawing

In Japan, over 1,000 prehistoric house reconstructions have been built at 360 different locations since 1949. Pit houses from Neolithic Jomon Period (14,000–300BC) are the most common but they are mostly based on archaeological remains limited to pits and postholes. Therefore, decisions on material and structure come from various sources, some based on research and others rooted in cultural ideologies or individual’s preferences. This paper compares reconstructions at three sites in the Central Highlands region of Japan. Despite the similarities in archaeological remains, the approaches toward reconstructions at each site are remarkably different. At Togariishi site (built 1949) the pit house design was made by Horiguchi Sutemi, a modernist architect and historian inspired by the past to find a Japanese essence in traditional farmhouses and tea houses that could intermix with Western architecture. At Idojiri site (first built 1958) archaeologists rejected mainstream academic concerns and embraced a community-centered approach to archaeological research and reconstruction. Lastly, the four pit houses at Umenoki site (built from 2014) were based on ethnographic examples from North America and were built by a carpenter and re-enactor who collaborated with the site archaeologists and the public. How might one evaluate the different approaches to reconstruction introduced in this paper? If one is narrowly concerned with historical accuracy (making immaculate simulations of the ...

Edgeland Residence is a modern dwelling designed by the Bercy Chen Studio which sees the company rehabilitating land once considered unsuitable for occupation. Claimed to set a new standard for sustainability, it draws inspiration from the Native American Pit House, and is designed to impact the environment as little as possible. Traditional Pit Homes are sunk into the ground in an effort to achieve a relatively stable temperature. Similarly, Edgeland Residence required an excavation of 7 feet (2.1 meters) depth. However, disturbance to the former brownfield site in Austin, Texas was kept to a minimum, as previous excavations to remove an old pipeline had already left a sizable scar. Edgeland Residence takes up an area of 1400 square feet (130 square meters) Edgeland Residence utilizes an insulating “green roof,” which sports a layer of grass and is home to carefully re-introduced seasonal native flowers that should lend a slightly different look depending on the time of year. The courtyard is also an excellent area for observing the local wildlife, including hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, and ant colonies. The interior of the house is broken up into two distinct areas designed for sleeping and living. In order to pass between them, occupants are required to venture outside for just long enough to be reminded of their natural surroundings. It's a nice touch which would perhaps detract from the desirability of the dwelling in the UK's rainy Yorkshire, but should be prac...