Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

The site of this house faces a row of cherry trees. The house was designed with consideration for the relationship between the family and the cherry trees, with family life and cherry trees overlapping in every space.

Scene-1 Entrance: Residents can see the cherry trees through a large window. They feel as close to the trees as if they were walking along a path beneath them.

Scene-2 Basement: The residents can look up at cherry trees through the window . Here, the green of the trees hangs over the residents and takes on a greater feeling of height and heaviness.

Scene-3 Private rooms on the first floor: These are a half-story above the entrance. The upper half of the exterior walls in these rooms are taken up by windows that run along the entire width of the house. These windows reveal a dense green belt, sharpening the residents’ awareness of the swaying leaves and the subtle changes in light and shade created by the trees.

Scene-4 Second floor: The living room has terraces on the south and north sides. Through the long terrace window, residents can view the trees at branch height. Breezes enter through both side windows,. The finishing materials used on the terrace are the same as those used inside the house, increasing continuity between interior and exterior. The glossy ceiling reflects the trees, giving residents a sense of sitting among the branches, and in spring, of floating in the cherry blossoms.

Each level is finished using different materials. The basement floor uses exposed concrete, the first floor wood, and the second floor white materials. The difference in the finishes strengthens the difference between levels. We used this as a device for increasing the residents’ consciousness of vertical movement and height so that they could better appreciate the cherry trees.

https://www.future-scape.co.jp/g2051engrishspanish/g205303works/g205303worksimage/g2053e15houseinkoganei/g2053e15houseinkoganeieg.html