Emily Reynolds

Japan's Clay Walls: a Glimpse into Their Plaster Craft Emily Reynolds

Earthen walls have always been a part of Japanese culture. Due to habits of aesthetic interpretation, few people realize that all of Japan's castles, temples and tea houses are maintained using their traditional methods. Clay, sand, straw and other natural fibers, seaweed, wood and bamboo. These natural materials are used to make the Japanese earthen wall. Along with a wide variety of makes and models of trowels, extensive time-tested techniques are used to create beautifully appealing atmospheres out of earth. These can be incorporated into todays world-wide green building movement to create a better balance between ourselves and our living environment.