著者

堀内 正昭

出版者

昭和女子大学

雑誌

學苑 (ISSN:13480103)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.887, pp.1-26, 2014-09-01

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Abstract The construction of this two-storied house ultimately owned by Mr. Matsui started around September, 1937 and was completed around February the following year. It had a Western-style room of mortar finish on the side of the entrance door, and the outer wall of the house was clapboarded with traditional bead battens. Such semi-Western houses were common in Setagaya Ward which had developed as a suburban residential area in early Showa period. Interviews with the owner of the house and research into this residence revealed that only the kitchen had been extended over 2 times. The kitchen initially occupied a wooden floor of 1 tsubo(3.3m2). The first extension of the kitchen had been done when the Matsui family moved in, and the new owner extended it to the north side. The arrangement of an 8-mat Japanese-style room on the first floor with Zashikikazari(a set of decorative features such as alcove, staggered wall shelves, built-in desk), the other 8-mat room with an alcove on the second floor, and a drawing room equipped fully with Western-style finishes on the first floor shows that in planning the house the ability to entertain visitors was important. Also the fact that there is no through pillar on the four corners of the second floor supports the conclusion that priority was given to creating a room suitable for entertaining. When the house was built, this area was called "navy village" since many families of naval personnel owned residences there. In most cases the houses were Western-style, one-storied, with exterior walls finished with sidings. Among such low rows of houses, the two-storied Matsui house must have been conspicuous. In the neighborhood of the Matsui residence, we can still see hedges, low stone walls, and other features that contribute to sociability. Certainly the Matsui residence played a great role in preserving the rich green living environment of the neighborhood. The house was demolished in 2014.