© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

Architect: Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates
Location: Matsusaka, Mie, Japan
Contractor: Sanyo Construction Corporation
Site Area: 667.84 sqm
Architectural Area: 189.15 sqm
Total Floor Area: 293.19 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates 

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

The structure consists of double skin system of the main frame and a surface of aluminum panels. To reduce the amount of radiant heat in summer, west and south sides are designed without openings and the width of space in the double skin of walls and roof on west and south are wider. This system controls the circulation of warm air so that it rises through the inside of double skin and extracted through louvers.

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

What we express here is a non-segmented form, in which the parts blend seamlessly with the whole by changing dimensions and angles parametrically for the same material. The external aluminum panes covering the volume vary to the louvers according to changes in size and gradual fragmentation. The angles, widths and lengths of panels are adjusted and louver aperture rations are determined according to the location of each room opening, loft opening, flue window and ventilation and air-conditioning outlets.

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

The house is located in a rural area near Ise Bay. There are vast rice fields around the site. During rice planting season, the fields are bathed in water and in autumn, harvesting season gives fields a golden glow. The area is also subject to high rainfall and frequent flooding.

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

The volume is elevated on a mound and rests on a green foundation. The site demanded a plan in which this foundation could protect the building from flooding and also allow the view of countryside to blend in harmoniously with green grass planted on the foundation. The entire structure consists of two volumes of different sizes. The interior spaces are formed so that they connect with the exterior by the mutual displacement of volumes and by penetration of the horizontal and vertical voids. The void vertically penetrating the small volume on east faces children’s room and bathroom on the first floor and family room on the second floor. The horizontal void perpendicular to it is the first floor terrace connecting to dining room. Light, wind and landscape enter deeply into the building through these two voids.

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

The challenge of capturing rich exterior landscape within while also maintaining the autonomy of interior spaces is tackled by examining various methods available for providing openings to the house. When two steel doors in dining and entrance are opened, pastoral landscape bursts into the building through terrace extending to rice fields. Aspects of the countryside showing from season to season, natural lights shining in the void from above and also sounds of footsteps from paves gravel impact the void space with various aspects. From living room to family space, soft light from a long slit of the roof engulfs the internal space. An expressive atmosphere is created by the changing of light intensity according to the change of sunlight and passage of time. An abstract external courtyard between aluminum panels can be viewed from family space.

© Takashi Yamaguchi & Associates

A disproportionate amount of lighting is placed on interior walls on west. The lights appear as countless segmented streams, and by randomly fragmenting the light, the non-uniformity further amplified the sense of fluidity and abstractness in the space producing a space with an expressive dramatic feel.