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House in Tamba / MIDW

House in Tamba / MIDW - More Images+ 11

Elemental Shores in the Asia-Pacific: Concrete Recasts the Beach House

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Living by the beach has long been a defining aspiration—drawn by the promise of tempered nature, privacy, and immediate access to the water. Historically, beach houses tended to be rustic and pared back: partly because servicing remote sites and delivering materials was difficult, and partly because their charm lay in being closer to the elements—simpler, rougher, more direct.

Accordingly, many early beach houses were built in timber. Wood offered clear advantages: it was lightweight, adaptable, quick to work with, and could be erected with minimal heavy machinery. While timber weathers and fares poorly in salt-laden humidity, exterior-grade lumber carries a raw, natural character that reinforced the appeal of the beach-house ideal.

Elemental Shores in the Asia-Pacific: Concrete Recasts the Beach House - More Images+ 32

House of Many Arches / 24d-studio (Fumio Hirakawa + Marina Topounova)

House of Many Arches / 24d-studio (Fumio Hirakawa + Marina Topounova) - More Images+ 13

Kyoto Suiden-ann Hostel SUI / Alphaville Architects

Kyoto Suiden-ann Hostel SUI / Alphaville Architects - More Images+ 25

Kizunaya Building / Alphaville Architects

Kizunaya Building / Alphaville Architects - More Images+ 16

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  121
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017

House H in Korien / Hisashi IKEDA Architects

House H in Korien / Hisashi IKEDA Architects - More Images+ 15

Osaka, Japan
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  136
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2016
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Ikea, Lixil Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic

Santo CLT Office / Junichi Kato & Associates

Santo CLT Office  / Junichi Kato & Associates - More Images+ 11

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  138
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2017
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  MEIKEN LAMWOOD CORPORATION, NIPPON STEEL, OSAKA GAS CHEMICALS

New Kyoto Town House 2 / Alphaville Architects

New Kyoto Town House 2 / Alphaville Architects - More Images+ 68

Kyoto, Japan

House in Shigaraki / Junichi Kato & Associates

House in Shigaraki / Junichi Kato & Associates - More Images+ 17

Fire Works Villa / TTArchitects

Fire Works Villa / TTArchitects - More Images+ 8

Matsuyama, Japan

Kawanishi fam / TT Architects

Kawanishi fam / TT Architects - More Images+ 4

Bridged Living Space / TT Architects

Bridged Living Space / TT Architects - More Images+ 6

Kurashiki, Japan

Kusunokidai Assembly Hall / Yamamori Architect & Associates

Kusunokidai Assembly Hall / Yamamori Architect & Associates - More Images+ 12

Kawachinagano, Japan

KJ House / Nakahira Architects

KJ House  / Nakahira Architects - More Images+ 8

Nishinomiya, Japan

House Twisted / Alphaville Architects

House Twisted / Alphaville Architects - More Images+ 21

Osaka, Japan

A house in Kitashirakawa / Méga

A house in Kitashirakawa / Méga - Houses, Kitchen, Beam, Table
© Kei Sugino
Nakagyo Ward, Japan
  • Architects: Méga
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  91
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2011
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Louis Poulsen

A house in Kitashirakawa / Méga - More Images+ 7

A house in Ayukawa / Méga

A house in Ayukawa / Méga - More Images+ 8

Osaka, Japan
  • Architects: Méga
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  230
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2012

A house in Kamigamo / Méga

A house in Kamigamo / Méga - More Images+ 10

Nakagyo Ward, Japan
  • Architects: Méga
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  134
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2012