The most common natural woods in Japanese architecture

Wooden houses have witnessed the lives of people and the development of Japan for hundreds of years. There are four main types of wood used to build wooden houses: Hinoki, Sugi, Karamatsu, and Akamatsu. This article introduces some information about the characteristics of the most common natural woods in Japanese architectural design and construction.

*The application of natural woods in traditional Japanese house architecture*

Mục lục

1 What is natural wood?
2 Pros and cons of natural wood in architecture
- 2.1 Pros:
- 2.2 Cons:
3 Natural Wood Types in Japanese Construction and Interior Design

What is natural wood?

Natural wood is a type of wood that is directly harvested from nature (fruit trees, resin trees – essential oils, etc.) or from forested areas that follow legal regulations for timber harvesting. When mature trees are ready for harvesting, they have a sturdy and firm trunk, ensuring that they meet the standards for construction and interior design.

*Proper logging of natural wood will help better protect the environment*

Natural wood is divided into many types:

Common wood: oak, sapele, ash, etc. This group of woods is usually easy to grow, grows quickly, and is easy to harvest.
Premium wood: walnut, american oak, etc. This group of woods is relatively rare in Vietnam, so it is often imported from foreign countries, making it quite expensive. The strengths of these premium wood species are their beautiful wood grain and colors, and their long lifespan.
Rare wood: Tali, apitong, padouk, ironwood, etc. This group of woods is usually difficult to grow, grows slowly, is rare, and therefore, has high value. They are often used in luxurious, high-class interior design due to their unique wood grain and colors.

Pros and cons of natural wood in architecture

Pros:

High aesthetic value: The unique characteristic of natural wood lies in its wood grain. Just like human fingerprints, each wood grain is unique, and there cannot be two woods with the same grain. This uniqueness adds to the exclusivity and uniqueness of each design, making it stand out. Besides, each type of natural wood also has its distinct color, which suits various design styles ranging from classic, neo-classic to modern.
Sustainability: Compared to processed wood and engineered wood, natural wood is a testament to its high durability and robustness. In Japan, the Janka hardness test is used to determine the hardness of wood (hardwood), softwood (coniferous trees) in the testing of the hardness of a natural wood plank.
Adaptability: There is a saying by architect Mai Anh Tú: “If functionality is not prioritized, beautiful architecture is just a waste.” A house made of natural wood can last from seventy to hundreds of years if properly maintained and taken care of. This is how the Japanese save resources, limit waste and protect the environment.

*Why should you use natural wood in building houses and interiors? (Photo: Internet)*

Cons:

High cost: In Vietnam, wood is becoming increasingly scarce, leading to the need to import wood from other countries. Furthermore, natural wood cannot be mass-produced, which makes its cost much more expensive compared to other materials.
Wood warping or shrinking: Although it has been air-dried for 5-7 years and treated, wood can still warp or shrink depending on the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment.

Natural Wood Types in Japanese Construction and Interior Design

Despite its drawbacks, the use of natural wood in construction and interior design is still on the rise in Japan. Skilled carpenters with years of experience have summarized and recommended common types of natural wood used in Sobokuya’s projects.

Hinoki / 桧

One of the most popular types of wood used in traditional Japanese construction. The wood has a light yellowish-white color, while the core is light yellow or light brown.

Key features:

Beautiful gloss and characteristic aroma, promoting relaxation.
High resistance to insects and termites.
Good hardness and increased hardness for 200 years after harvesting.
Hinoki is not only used as a construction material but also for bathtubs, furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc.

*Hinoki wood used at Sobokuya Vietnam Office*

Especially when used as a construction material, Hinoki is known as an excellent material for durability, shape, fragrance, and is an indispensable material in the construction of temples in Japan. Horyuji Temple, built-in 607, used Hinoki wood as a construction material. It is the oldest surviving 5-story temple in the world thanks to the increased hardness of Hinoki wood after harvesting.

Sugi / 杉

A commonly used type of wood in Japan, used for ceiling boards, house pillars, or sliding doors and windows. Compared to Hinoki, Sugi wood is quite light and not suitable for products requiring high hardness.

Sugi wood is often used for toilets, bathtubs, kitchen cabinets, ... because of its good anti-mold effect — *Sugi wood is often used for toilets, bathtubs, kitchen cabinets, … because of its good anti-mold effect*

Key features:

Wood has a beautiful natural light reddish-brown grain and good moisture and mold resistance, so it is often used for bathrooms, bathtubs, cabinets, etc.
Soft and easy to cut, good elasticity.

Sugi is a sturdy wood, used extensively in load-bearing structures and outdoor works due to its high resistance to decay.

Karamatsu/ カラ松

Karamatsu is a coniferous tree that sheds its leaves in winter and grows new leaves in spring.

Key features:

The wood has a brownish-white color with a reddish-brown core.
The board is hard and rough. High hardness.
Good water resistance.

*Karamatsu wood is widely used to make beams, flooring, wall boards, etc.*

Karamatsu is often used as a column in wooden houses. Thanks to recent advances in wood treatment technology, Karamatsu is increasingly being used for beams, floorboards, wall panels, etc.

Akamatsu/ アカマツ

It is said that the red bark is the origin of the name Akamatsu. The wood has a brownish-white color with a reddish-brown core.

Key features:

Wood has a natural reddish-brown grain, and the core has a reddish-brown color.
Good hardness and elasticity.
High resistance to water.

Akamatsu is often used for decorative items, furniture, and flooring in Japan. Its high water resistance makes it a suitable material for bathrooms and outdoor structures.

*Gỗ Akamatsu thường được dùng trong thiết kế bồn tắm, dầm ngang, cửa kéo Shoji, sàn gỗ, v.v.*

At the Sobokuya workshop in Japan, to maintain the structural strength of the large roof and entire building, we employ a double cantilever method using four horizontal beams made of Akamatsu wood. We do not use wooden columns in the interior space of the workshop to ensure ample working space.

Sobokuya Vietnam – Consulting, design, and construction in Japanese style
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The most common natural woods in Japanese architecture

What is natural wood?