Temple Conversion

Description

We found this 19th-century temple in North Western Niigata, close to Yamagata.

Religious buildings cannot be bought or sold in Japan; only when a temple is being replaced or officially decommissioned can it be ‘de-spirited’ by a number of rituals and deemed no longer a temple.

The temple has a striking roof structure and contains exquisitely carved Keyaki timber throughout. The temple is quite small, with a 135m² footprint, and can be converted to a lovely 2-bedroom cottage. Alternatively, since the roof structure is in excess of 10m high, a second storey/loft can be added, creating up to 200m² of living space.

In October ‘22, we dismantled the temple and took it to our workshop, where the restoration and reconfiguration of the timber will be done during the Spring of 2023. At the same time, our Architect and Interior Architect will work with you to create the layout and configuration of the temple, as well as choose the fittings and fixtures to complement this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Heritage Homes is one of the few builders in Japan that exceeds EU standards for sustainability, insulation, energy efficiency and a minimal carbon footprint. Triple glazing is standard, as is hemp and woodwool insulation. Furthermore, we will not use kerosine, but instead use a variety of proven, modern technologies such as heat exchange pumps, thermal, gasifier and solar, depending on the location of the property.

The final design is up to you. At Heritage Homes, we don’t do cookie-cutter properties. each building that we dismantle, restore and relocate is different from any other. Heritage Homes has both its own in-house architect and interior architect/designer. Together we will create a home that you and your family will cherish over the generations.