The house on stilts is iconic of traditional Japanese architecture, the style coming into prevalence with the advent of Buddhism in Japan. The essential impetus for lifting the building was to remove it from the natural ground moisture. This was especially important as Japanese architecture relied so heavily upon the use of wood as the primary building material, which of course resulted in buildings prone to or at least faced with the constant threat of rotting. By raising the building off of the ground, the wind was allowed to whisk under the structure; air flow along the ground more quickly relieved ground saturation, reducing the risk of rot to the wooden stilts supporting the house.
Another benefit of raising the building up off of the ground is that it reduces the impact that the construction has upon the environment, since so little ground need be broken on the site. Far fewer problems are encountered with issues such as ground permeability and rainwater runoff, as are frequently created or impounded by the pouring of concrete for massive foundations and rolling out pavement for driveways.
Images Cited:
(1) www.japanlinks.ch/traditional_japanese_house/english/building_environment
(2) mikecash.aminus3.com/image/2008-01-21.html
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