Machiya Townhouse Row

Machiya Townhouse Row is an original illustration set in Kyoto Basin, Japan. It lies in mid-latitudes, where the climate is humid subtropical — hot summers, no dry season.

Continuous dark timber lattice fronts line a narrow street at ground level. Deep tiled eaves reach out over the pavement, and slender vertical slatted windows run along the upper floor. Small rain chains hang at the corners with stone splash stones beneath, and everything is wet.

Why do these houses have deep eaves and rain chains?

Rain chains instead of downpipes, deep eaves over the walkway, and splash stones on the ground are three answers to the same problem: a lot of rain, arriving often. The lattice front gives light and ventilation while keeping the interior private on a street this tight. Narrow frontages with long depth are what happens when urban property is taxed by street width.

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