Windows and the surrealists

When houses are built in Japan, they put a cover over the scaffolding, which means you can't really see in from the outside, but you also can't really see out either. Trying to peel back this layer to see the view the other day made me think of surrealist photographer Lee Miller, and his photograph "Portrait of Space" -

"A Portrait of Space" by Lee Miller. Taken near Siwa, Egypt, in 1937.

Beppu 2001. Is there an original thought left?

I liked this one better though.

OK, enough connecting with with my subconscious. And Lee Miller's.

But it does seem appropriate, all this looking out of frames, because this week the window and door frames have been added.  There's no glass yet, but this too seems quite apt.

The house frame is coming along too, with lots more being done to it, as well as the floors, which now have an insulation layer and boards. Over the top of these will be the final layer (to come later) of solid oak. Can't WAIT for that!

We had a long meeting with the builder this afternoon, which entailed lots of going around measuring stuff very precisely with marking pens on the floors. When I say precisely I mean not really. We had to measure out the size of the kitchen and dining table and work out what position enables you to walk through the house from all angles without developing crab-like tendencies (which is pretty much how we've been living since we moved to Japan, mind you). We also figured out the best place for the big black lights that will hang over the dining table, which was very fun!

On another note, I realised that a painting my beautiful Mum is giving us for a house warming present (that she painted) will be able to fit in the dining room. It was very difficult to get the smile off my face this afternoon!


Here's some general pics of progress.

Sunset. I'm just chucking this in the mix because it's beautiful!

Standing in the middle of the living room, looking back to the dining and kitchen area. Underneath the boards on the floor if 10cm thick foam boards. No drafts getting in our place in winter!

This is the frame for what will be the large sliding door going out onto the deck. So glad I fought for that tree to stay!

The other sliding door frame in the living room, surrealist style.

Lever windows - these are awesome. You can keep them open all through summer so that mould doesn't grow. This window will open out to the deck, but is actually the window for the storage room in the entrance.

Looking up through where the stairwell will be.

View from the second floor. It's actually pretty high! Could abseil that!

Looking into the second floor from the scaffolding. I admit it: I like to sneak up there when the builders have gone and climb the scaffolding. SHHH!

The view to the mountains from the balcony. Sorry the tarp got in the way on the top left corner there.

What will be our bedroom, then the free space, Kaoru's study and the balcony. Out of view is Ben's room, a small storage room off our bedroom, and an upstairs toilet and wash basin space at the top of the stairs.