Unassuming from the outside, Minka – La Casa de Japón holds a treasure. It is a traditional Japanese farmhouse. This house journeyed from Fukui to Buenos Aires. It now stands as a museum in San Isidro.
Minka means “houses of the people.” This particular Minka is almost 300 years old. Guillermo Bierregaard and his wife Patricia brought it here. They lived in Japan for over 30 years. Work took them there. They wanted to return to their roots with a piece of Japan.
In 1984 the house arrived by ship. It was disassembled into modules. Four specialized Japanese carpenters came too. They reassembled it like a puzzle. The house has no screws or nails. Architects marvel at its construction. It uses a stone base. Columns and beams are made of red pine. Ropes, reeds, bamboo and glass complete it.
The garden embodies Japanese design principles. It features amazing sculptures. Minka – La Casa de Japón now houses a significant collection. It is the largest collection of modern Japanese art outside Japan. Architect Junzo Yoshimura adapted the house into a museum.
The collection includes about 850 pieces. These pieces are by Living National Treasures of Japan. It’s a hidden gem in Buenos Aires Province. Not many people know about it.
The Bierregaards acquired the Minka in the mountains of Fukui. It is about 300 kilometers from Kyoto. Before shipping, the house was partially assembled in Nagoya. This process took five years. Finally it was shipped to Buenos Aires in 1984.
The four Japanese carpenters erected the house in three weeks. It stands on a property in Boulogne at 1596 San Martín Street. The 1000-square-meter architectural jewel connects through interlocking joints. It uses columns, pine beams, ropes and bamboo. All rest on a stone base.
Judith Savloff described the house as austere and impressive. She said it uses trunks, ropes, reeds and glass instead of walls. It is a direct passage to traditional Japan. Guillermo explained that the materials reflect the poverty of rural villages. Farmers used cheap readily available materials. Until the 19th century paper was used instead of glass.
Guillermo emphasized the integration of the garden. It is seen as part of the home. The garden design reflects nature. It is scaled to human size and precisely arranged.
Today Minka – La Casa de Japón welcomes visitors. Some rooms now display art. The museum shows ten percent of their Japanese art collection. To visit Minka, you must schedule an appointment. The phone number is 4737-9293.