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Architects: FujiwaraMuro Architects
- Area: 95 m²
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Photographs:Toshiyuki Yano
Text description provided by the architects. The building site is in a rural area of Tokushima Prefecture. Our thought was to come up with a design that brought out the clear landscape. It was the owner’s wish to have an open residence connected to the outside. The environment is such that there are so few passersby you don’t even need curtains, so the request was for a liberated atmosphere related to the open air. Based on this, we decided to suggest a design in which you can feel the changes from moment to moment as the landscape changes throughout the course of a year. At the site, the breeze can be felt from many directions, so we also wanted to make use of the wind flow.
In terms of planning, first we decided to make a number of small hills. Our image was that of a house placed in the midst of small hills interconnected with the natural environment surrounding the site. By creating hills, we were able to give depth perception to the landscape so that, from within looking out, one sees hills in the foreground, rice fields beyond and the sky above. Unlike a wall that creates a clear divide between inside and outside, hills gradually flow up and down, establishing a natural sense of distance from the outside. Finally, we had each family member choose a hill and we planted trees or shrubs of their liking on their respective hills. These plants growing up into the landscape around the house will complete our vision of the residence.
In terms of the design of the rooms, our aim was to create an atmosphere in which the life of the family would center around the LDK (living-dining-kitchen area). The LDK is situated so that the wind can pass through here and there and the scenery can be viewed from all four directions. The movement of the wind in this spot gives one a unique experience of the landscape.
The individual rooms can be used as an extension of the LDK and the LDK can be used as an extension of the individual rooms. The rooms used in conjunction with one another are in relationship so as to enhance the space of each. At night, the inside of the LDK is illuminated from the outside. The roof floats atop the rice fields creating a sense of expansion in the scenery that is distinctive of the night time.
