Evaluate. Design. Build. Choosing & Renovating the Right Historical Home in Japan with Marcus Consolini / Daimon Shuzo

Outland Japan

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In Episode 50 of the podcast I speak with Marcus Consolini, owner and general manager of Daimon Shuzo - a 200 year old sake brewery in Osaka - and board member of the Minka Preservation Society. Marcus has hands on experience in the restoration of multiple historical properties in Japan including the brewery, private residences and other buildings. Given that experience, Marcus is an ideal guest to speak about the process of acquiring and renovating ‘kominka’ (traditional houses) and other historical buildings.

Marcus breakdowns the process of selecting the right property and determining how you will renovate it, including key questions to ask along the way. He categories the types of owners he has encountered and how principles including passion, thick skin and patience underscore yet also risk the success of every renovation. Marcus goes on to propose a working model based on three key focuses - evaluation, design and build - and the dynamic between the architect, designer and builder it is the carpenter that wins.

This episode will be of interest to anyone interested in acquiring a historical / heritage home in Japan or perhaps you are already in the process or have done so yourself. It builds upon Episode 43 and Episode 48, my interviews with fellow Minka Preservation Society board members, Lauren Scharf and Vincent Ing. For more information, visit the Minka Preservation Society website or Instagram and for further information about the brewery, visit the Daimon Shuzo website or Instagram.

A big thank you to Marcus for making time to speak with me and providing the images used in support of this episode. This episode is the last of Season 4. I will announce the return date of the podcast as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will republish popular episodes from Season 3. I hope you enjoy.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Chapters

1. Episode Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Daimon Shuzo & Osaka's Sake Culture (00:03:56)

3. Minka Preservation Society & Marcus's Heritage Properties (00:11:24)

4. The Need for Passion, Thick Skin & Patience (00:16:41)

5. Three Key Focus of Evaluation, Design & Build (00:22:36)

6. The Carpenter Always Wins (00:25:08)

7. Understanding the Original Design of the House (00:29:50)

8. The Importance of Language, Nuance & Understanding (00:33:48)

9. Planning for the Future: Safety, Security & Survival (00:36:03)

10. Community & Cultural Considerations (00:42:59)

11. Why Kominka are Worth Saving (00:45:12)

12. Episode Close (00:48:13)