We’re currently in preparation mode for our upcoming Japanese guesthouse project. This is the focal point of the 2026 Japanese Carpentry Real Construction Workshop, but it will also be the site for future classes as well. It’s an exciting time, to say the least. I’ve started to submit orders for timbers and we recently cleared the building site with the help of friends. This winter, I’ve found myself waking up early and churning over design details. This is not a small project. But I digress…
The Ishibatate Japanese Guesthouse
Our hope is that the guesthouse will serve as a vital source of inspiration. The thought of having additional space for guests is exciting in and of itself. It’s part of our broader vision for continuing to host teachers, students, and other guests. I’m also personally invested in the inspirational power that any well-built, beautiful natural building can conjure. A building with a story and timeless beauty is a catalyst for creativity. That’s my hope, at least.
Examples of traditional Japanese homes in the ishibatate (post on stone) style are few and far in-between in the US. Understandably, as you can imagine. We’re far removed from Japan and the conditions that gave rise to this style of architecture. Nevertheless, these homes are a testament to craftsmanship, natural materials, and a different kind of relationship to the surrounding environment, which I hard to put into precise words. Personally, I consider this style of traditional architecture the pinnacle of wood and earthen construction. It’s like an incredible distillation of what is possible when you choose to build with primary natural materials: wood, earth, stone, paper.
Choose is an important word here. There are countless ways to build a building in this day and age. Building anything represents a million choices, big and small. I’ve been invested in natural building materials and methods for almost half my life at this point, and this guesthouse is a chance to fulfill a long brewing dream to try to replicate traditional Japanese building methods in the context of this place, the foothills of Kentucky. Ishibatate homes, minka, and traditional Japanese building skills have been a source of ongoing inspiration for me for many years. This is an exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible.
There’s a lot more I could possibly say about this, but I’ll leave it at that for now. This is a long term project and we have some specific targets this year. 2027 will usher in new classes, too. I hope you follow along as progress continues on this exciting project and new chapter.