Mao'ao Stone House Introduction
The stone houses in Miao'ao are a prime example of "using local materials." The stones are sourced from coastal sandstone, the framework is made from bamboo from the nearby mountains, and the roofs were traditionally thatched with wild grass. The stone houses in Miao'ao can be broadly categorized into three different styles and construction techniques. The first type is a linear, random-stone layout, which is the most common and economical method, with walls constructed from natural river stones or roughly chiseled stone blocks of similar size, showcasing a rugged beauty. The second type is a single stretch, horizontal masonry method, where the stones are chiseled into uniform stone strips and then layered horizontally, resulting in a neat and orderly wall. The third type is a courtyard-style herringbone construction, which is higher in skill, strength, and cost. The walls are made from processed stone blocks of equal length, stacked at approximately 45 degrees, with the joints intricately interwoven like the letter "人," making it quite distinctive.
