Today the first layer of the house puzzle went into place, the dodai 土台. Fat hinoki beams sit on “packing” of plastic padding on top of the concrete foundations.
I turned up at the genba just before 10 am break, hoping I’d find a way to help. I did! I made coffee for everyone and handed around snacks.
And after that, I was invited to pick up and help place a dodai beam on the south wall. And I took the initiative to set the big locking washers onto all the bolts and I even added some of the nuts. It wasn’t a lot of effort or help, but I directed my delight and focus into each little part.
Good houses are built with happy hearts.
P.S. I mentioned in my previous post that I thought I was standing on the scaffolding at about level with the loft. That’s not right. The actual height of the loft is more in line with the top rail of the scaffolding in this photo. This house is way taller than I think it is. I wonder if it will be scary to be all the way up in the rafters next Friday for the jotoshiki?
