The residence was built in 1925-1926 in 127 Yamanote, south east from current location, as an abode of Fritz Ehrismann, a Swiss merchant. It was designed by Czecharchitect, Antonin Raymond. After his death, the ownership has been changed several times. Although no damage was done during World War II, the building was demolished for the construction of the apartment in 1982. Finding historic value in the structure, the Yokohamamunicipality purchased the disassembled pieces and reassembled the building within Motomachi park in 1990. In 2001, it was designated as a City's historical architecture.
Architecture
The building is a two-story wood frame structure with a basement floor, built by Shimizu Corporation. The first floor was used for drawing room, kitchen, living room-cum-dining room. The second floor had bedrooms and bathroom. Before relocation, there was a Japanese style annex existed, which has not been restored on account of components had been lost. The architect is Antonin Raymond. He was brought to Japan by Frank Lloyd Wright as an assistant in 1919 when Imperial Hotel was constructed. Although his distinctive five principles of nature, simplicity, straightforwardness, honesty, economical are underlying the design, this building is his early work as an independent architect, so that in the details, such as furniture, for instance, the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright can be found. It has roofs of gentle slant and first-floor eaves, which emphasizes the structure's horizontality. Windows and the other openings are relatively wide, and have blueish-green shutters. Steam heaters are installed in the entire building and, in addition, it has a fireplace at the drawing room since client requested. Because Ehrismann's wife was Japanese, bathroom and toilet are separated. Today it's open to the publicfor free as a part of Motomachi park. They displays records associated with the facility on the second floor, and Kitchen has been changed into a Coffeehouse called Shoyu cafe, lit. soy sauce cafe, which serves soy sauce breads, puddings and other dishes.
