A distinctive moss-covered earthen roof now shields the waiting area of the Sekiyuan teahouse in Ichihara City, Chiba, Japan. The innovative structure, built by Kurosawa Kawara-ten in collaboration with an architect and artist rather than professional builders, serves as a small shelter where guests pause before entering the adjacent tea room. The project exemplifies the "Do It Together" (DIT) approach, exploring how informal building practices can contribute to contemporary architectural culture.

The structure features a uniquely deformed single-slope roof supported at three strategic points. Its surface is finished with mortar mixed with soil excavated directly from the foundation, creating a unified appearance that extends across the gables and eaves. Notably, no waterproofing was applied to the surface, allowing it to retain moisture and naturally support moss growth over time. This deliberate design choice creates an organic, living roof that changes with the seasons.

The roof's intentionally low point at the rear serves a cultural purpose, subtly encouraging visitors to bow as they enter. This design element contributes to the tea ceremony's spatial etiquette while reducing hierarchical distinctions among guests. The diagonal opening of the roof establishes a clear directional gesture, effectively guiding movement through the alleyway and creating a seamless transition from outdoor space to the tea room.

The project responds thoughtfully to the site's existing garden layout, with landscape planning developed by Takeda-ya Sakuteiten. The landscape design introduced new pathways and a bench-like waiting area using irregularly placed bricks and tiles. These existing elements informed the building's informal composition and influenced its focus on reinterpreting conventional architectural forms in a more accessible way.

Constructed entirely without professional builders, the project uses its small scale and non-essential program to highlight the act of making itself. Essential tasks such as cutting timber, carving components, excavating soil, and mixing mortar became central to the project's intent. This approach emphasizes building as a hands-on, responsive process that connects creators directly with their materials and environment.

The structure's suspended mortar-and-earth roof introduces a subtle sense of instability that heightens spatial awareness and anticipation as visitors approach the tea room. By relying on accessible materials and manual techniques, the project reflects on the diminishing role of amateur participation in contemporary construction practices. It demonstrates how small, non-urgent structures can reintroduce flexibility, experimentation, and a sense of agency in shaping one's built environment.

Kurosawa Kawara-ten positions this innovative approach not as nostalgic reconstruction of traditional building methods, but as a pathway to restoring forms of community collaboration and fundamental understandings of how spaces can be created. The Sekiyuan Waiting Area represents a thoughtful exploration of how informal building practices can enrich contemporary architectural culture while honoring traditional Japanese spatial customs and tea ceremony etiquette.