Itakura Method in Zushi / 板倉工法 Part 14
Finally the switches and the power points are being fitted by the electricians!
Now we are done with the flooring, we’ve started working on the door frames (all sliding doors), the kitchen wall, the Hinoki cypress bathtub, the loft, skirting board etc. With Itakura method, the thick cedar timber walls that slipped in between the pillars make both inside and the outside wall, but we’ve designed differently this time. We are using Washi as wallpaper for the Japanese room and the bedroom downstairs and tiling and plastering for the kitchen.
For the base, we use plaster boards. This pink coloured board is actually cooler than you think, it sucks all the toxic substance like formaldehyde that might be in the air, and decompose it into non-toxic substance.
Here, I’d like to take a moment to explain a bit about ‘Sick house syndrome’ which is controversial topic after building houses (in Japan anyway) One of the reasons why newly built (or refurbished) house owners and their families sometimes have to go through this syndrome is this toxic substance, formaldehyde. It is often produced by newer building materials that contains chemicals and the improvements on the housing airtightness helps to multiply the trouble.
– improved airtightness on buildings
– headache, dizziness, nausea
To go back to the subject, the plaster board must be used for the base of the Washi walls and the plastering, that is why we chose this pink one (called Highclean but it is probably the products name in Japan) Other than this, everything we use is natural solid wood. I can guaranteed you, it feels great all day long, even for a new born baby to be in this house😃
It seems that people often think this type of houses cost a fortune, but it is not that different. If you are interested, please give it a thought. It feels great for yourself as well as for our earth.
Thank you for reading!

近年、ホルムアルデヒドの放散が少ないF☆☆☆☆の新建材が普及しシックハウスで悩む人は減少したといわれますが、いまだに新築住宅やリフォーム後の住宅で体調を崩すケースがあります。その原因のひとつに、ホルムアルデヒドの室内濃度の上昇があります。住宅の高気密化や化学物質を使った新建材の使用などにより、室内の空気汚染がおこり、居住者の体調に影響を及ぼす症状をさします。
・構造材、内装材、家具などから化学物質が放散
・換気不足による空気の滞留
・住宅の高気密化
<症状>
・頭痛、めまい、吐き気 など
あ、でもここの家はそういったホルムアルデヒドを含む新建材はひとつも使用していないので
構造材も内装材も家具も全て無垢の木です!
一日中、家にいる赤ちゃんも気持ちいいことでしょう(⌒▽⌒)