Hayato Komatsu Architects

Boundary Architecture - How to capture the light

This project is for a house in the center of Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.
The east road of the site is the boundary line between commercial and residential zoning, and the site falls under the residential zone. Therefore, the site is divided into two areas, one lined with high-rise buildings such as condominiums and the other lined with old and new residences. In consideration of lighting, the east side of the site should be lined with low-rise residences and the west side with high-rise buildings, but the current situation is the opposite.

As the city continues to renew itself, it will become increasingly difficult to expect more light from the east. What should be done to obtain the same amount of light regardless of how the city is renewed? First of all, assuming that buildings will be constructed to the limit of the height limit on the surrounding sites, high-sidelighting is effective in order to bring in stable lighting throughout the year. However, it is not possible to secure sufficient lighting only by arranging high-sides at one location. Therefore, we divided the large high-side into sections and staggered them in a tiered pattern to allow light to reach the building regardless of the sun's altitude. Furthermore, the wind from the courtyard on the east side of the building is allowed to pass through to each high side.

The stepped high sides give the impression of a ray of light streaming in from the canyon, while at the same time allowing a sense of openness without making one feel as if they are in the middle of the city. The roofs are terraced when viewed from the outside, and the greening of this area gives the appearance of terraced rice paddies.

Whether in the city or in the countryside, the richness of the environment can be felt by the way light is captured. I believe that this residence embodies this richness.