| Historical Narrative of Shofuso Chapter 8 1997-2000 CAPITAL RESTORATION CAMPAIGN 8.1 Plans Being Made for a Restoration Since the 1976 restoration, there has been no major work done at Shofuso. However, there has been no major vandalism or neglect since that time. In 1987, architect George G. Shimamoto visited the House and noted that although there were some flaking stucco and torn shoji, the House interior showed the results of "tender care" by the friends group. There are, however, normal repair needs that need to be met. As with the earlier restoration program, the most significant work that needs to be done is roof replacement. The life span of the hinoki bark roof at about 20-25 years is shorter than the roof of a traditional western home. The kakibuki (persimmon tree shingles) of the Shofuso teahouse will also be replaced. In addition, in other areas of the house, such as the rice paper covered shoji, there is a higher amount of maintenance required than what Americans generally experience. The garden also needs to be restored. According to carpenter Richard Koga, the basic reason the garden is in poor shape is that the landscape designer Tansai Sano was sent back to Japan early. Fairmount Park did not provide adequate provisions to keep him on to supervise the project as he designed it. His assistant David Engel did not properly place the stones or planting. Many of the stones have subsequently come loose and are now at the bottom of the pond. A capital fund raising campaign has been underway since a feasibility study was completed in March, 1997. It was determined that $2,000,000 are needed for current restoration and administration needs for the house, garden and the gate house. The City of Philadelphia has set aside $250,000 to be used towards the roof restoration. The Japanese sister organization of The Friends of the Japanese House and Garden, Japan Friends of Shofuso, is actively helping to raise funds for the capital campaign. The Japanese government, however, did not become involved with this restoration campaign. After agreeing to help coordinate assistance from Japanese organizations in 1976, they made a condition that, "the Japanese side sincerely expects that the City of Philadelphia and the authorities of Fairmount Park will be responsible for the future maintenance and preservation of the house." At that time, the city’s mayor, Frank Rizzo, wholeheartedly accepted these terms stating, "You may be sure that the house and grounds will receive proper care and attention so long as I am Mayor and that this pledge will be made known to my successors in the years to come," thus absolving the Japanese government from any further obligations to Shofuso. The same organization that performed the 1976 restoration, Nakamura S_t_ji Komuten, will be involved with the roof replacement. In October and November of 1995, Yoshiaki Nakamura came to Shofuso for an initial site visit to assess the roof. A final inspection was made in October, 1998 (see Figure 8-1). It is planned that the hinoki bark being prepared in Japan will be packed in February, 1999, and shipped to the United States in April of that same year. Scaffolding will begin to be erected in August, 1999, and the actual work will be done in September and October. During the roof restoration, The Friends of the Japanese House and Garden will provide 24 hour security service for the House to supplement the regular Fairmount Park police patrol. Nakamura plans to arrive in mid-September with seven roofers and carpenters. In addition to the replacement of the hinoki roof, they will replace or repair the kawara tiles of the roof as needed. The house will close early for that season at the end of Labor Day to accommodate the work, and is expected to reopen in May, 2000. There are several areas where the hinoki wood components have deteriorated. It is likely that these pieces may be the sitka spruce pieces that were fashioned when the House was relocated to Philadelphia. The wood replacement for damaged pieces during the 1958 relocation of Shofuso was unfortunately not documented. Although similar in appearance, this new wood does not resist water as readily without a protective coating. Conservators have been engaged to assist with the conservation of the exterior wood elements of Shofuso. In addition to restoration work, the friends group plans on expanding their interpretation and educational facilities. Initially, designs were created by Charles Evers to simply expand the existing gate house. However, a Building Committee formed to deal with the expansion of these facilities, decided that this would not be the most feasible plan because the property within the Shofuso gates are so limited. A site outside on Fairmount Park grounds will instead be used. The new facility is being designed by the architectural firm Atkin Olshin Lawson-Bell & Associates. The new building will fulfill such functions as volunteer and visitor services, educational programming, and administrative offices. 8.2 The Scarcity of Hinoki Bark Even in Japan, the repair or replacement of a hinoki roof is difficult. Structures that are considered National Treasures are on waiting lists to have work done. For one, there are fewer good quality hinoki trees today, and they are often privately owned. Owners often do not allow for their tree bark to be removed by motokawashi (people who peels bark off the hinoki), who often fear damage. Ironically, when properly done, the removal of bark actually strengthens the tree layers, but owners, who are also concerned with volume over quality, are not happy. In addition, there are few skilled yanefuki shokunin (roof carpenters) and motokawashi today. They are increasingly getting older with very few to take their place. Several other materials, including copper, were investigated as potential replacement roofing material. Another Yoshimura designed structure, the sukiya style teahouse on the Rockefeller estate in New York mentioned earlier, also had a hinoki roof, which was replaced with copper in 1982 because of the scarcity of hinoki bark. Click here to go to Chapter 9 |
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