Supports
A key requirement was that the tea house should be supported on stones, raising the internal floor and veranda to about 300-350mm above ground level.
Timber framing
The tea house should be a true timber-framed structure, using suitably large timbers both for strength and appearance. However, I was not concerned about using a hardwood such as green oak and decided instead to use treated softwood and apply a dark oak woodstain to all visible timbers to give an appearance of age.
While I did not rule out the use of some metal fixings where appropriate, these should not be visible (at least externally).
Doors and windows
One compromise that I decided to accept was to make it possible to open the front wall (or at least a significant proportion of it) in order to make the structure usable as an ordinary summer house. My original thought was to have the wall in four sections with the two central sections sliding back, but I could not see how to ensure that it would look like a solid wall when closed (which was a key requirement) or how to conceal any tracking. So in the end I decided on a hinged approach (see Build - walls).
However, I did want to include a low sliding guest entrance (nijiri-guchi) (see Traditional style) on one of the side walls.
The number, position and style of windows was left open at the design stage. I wanted at least one window with vertical bamboo slats (see Traditional style) in one or both side walls. I also was keen to have a round window overlooking the lake, but this would depend on being able to source or make a suitable bentwood frame.
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