TOTENKAKU

Facility introduction

Totenkaku(former Bichoff House ) is said to be built in 1894 and is the oldest existing ijinkan.

The architect of the house was F・Bichoff and according to the personal name list of 1895, he was recoded as a pilot.

The designer was said to be British Gariba. Although the roof is a hipped roof, it is a Western-style hut, and the large roof is on the veranda supported by multiple pillars.

The building is two-story wooden structure with hipped roof and tiled roof and the outer wall is clapboard oil paint.

The exterior uses a double-pillar veranda on the front (it was an open veranda at the beginning). The design is entirely based on the classical method.

The foundation is a British pile (brick decorative pile), and a stone pillar stand is placed on the Nobukasa stone.

You enter through the veranda as it is the entrance here and on the right hand of the entrance hall, there is stairs which leads to the 2nd floor.

The main room is on the south side and the room on the southeast side overhangs to the south with a bay window, which makes a comfortable space.

The interior design is quite elaborate, with wood carving flower patterns, fireplaces, and mantelpieces fitted with baroque picture frames carved in wood as waist panels for entrance halls and stairs.

Around the fireplace, there are Minton tiles from the Victorian era in England and there are also other things to see such as metal fittings for entering and exiting.

The window of the stairs is also quite elaborate. It is shaped in the pinnacle arched frame, and mysterious light leaks through the purple glass. The “Kumiko” pattern, which is a combination of wooden crosspieces in a diamond shape, also has a vividly fantastic and religious mood.

The chimney occupies an extremely large proportion in the Ijinkan and it is to stack various types of bricks which makes the chimney outstanding. The chimney is comprised of three flues and has a solid atmosphere.

The fireplace is an inseparable in Etranze’s life as it’s the center of gatherings and also works as an interior decoration.

Facility details

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