Japanese Roof Tiles Kawara
These roof tiles have high cultural importance since they have been decorating the japanese scenery for more than 1 400 years.
Japanese roof tiles kawara. Kawara offers various roofing materials commonly used in the philippine market such as clay and ceramic roof tiles stone coated metal roofing asphalt shingles and composite roof tiles. The term originally refers to a slab of clay that has been baked until it hardens. This type of roof is known as kawara yane 瓦屋根 in japanese. Roofs of japanee traditional houses are generally covered with ceramic tiles called kawara 瓦 and these are often decorated with the decorative ornaments like shachihoko 鯱.
What exactly is a kawara. You cannot travel to japan without noticing the tidiness attention to detail and deliberate use of design to improve the look of dull and everyday objects to create a beautiful living environment. The purpose of japanese roof tiles is to prevent evil from coming into the home temple castle. Other products offered are heat and sound insulation of the highest r value and solar power solutions for residential homes.
Often the functional and decorative tiles were enhanced with additional tiles such as oni gawara roof peak face end tiles featuring gargoyle like devilish faces supposed to frighten off evil spirits and protect the home. It is thought that the oldest kawara were used in asuka temple in nara prefecture south of kyoto. These decorave ornaments often have meanings like keeping away bad spirits to protect the house etc. The japanese roof tiles called kawara are one of the most noticeable elements of the japanese landscape especially in kyoto which still has many traditional houses.
Kawara traditional roof tiles of japan not only keep the rain out they have personality meaning and spiritual symbolism.