House in Shinyashiki

 
What was most important for you during the design process?

Taking into consideration the fact that the wind blows from east to west in this area, we left an open space on the west side of the site and placed the building on the east (Fig. 1). By dividing the building in two and opening it like a fan, we created a form that fully takes in the views (Fig. 2). The exterior wall on the east side extends the slope of the roof down to the ground, functioning not only to gently block views of the house from neighboring properties, but also to create the sense that the wall is reaching out to invite in the views, or alternately, that the wall is softly embracing the house. Furthermore, by opening up a crevasse-like gap between the buildings for the wind to pass through, we brought cool breezes from the river into the rooms (Fig. 3). 

What challenges did you face in the project? How did you respond to them?

Because the site is large, the issue of how to create the story of the house also arose. The circulation concept we arrived at has visitors and residents approach the house from the west, open the front door, and see the light-filled crevasse further back before continuing on to the panoramic views of the landscape. The hall, living-dining-kitchen area, and Japanese-style room are successively elevated 400 mm above one another, which creates a variety of views and moods within the house. Beyond the living-dining-kitchen area is a terrace that spans the entire width of the house and is protected by deep eaves, providing a space for various gatherings. 

 
What did you learn from this project? What will you take from it to future projects?

By creating a building that neither opposes the environment nor fuses with it, but rather simply and directly embodies the site conditions, we were able in this project to achieve a sense of both expansiveness and tolerance. 

Interview by Ryogo Utatsu / japan-architects