Everlong / bandesign

Curated by ArchDaily

Architects: bandesign
Area: 253 m²
Year: 2014
Photographs:Shigetomo Mizuno
Construction: Aizawa kensetsu ltd, Yoshiharu Tsuzuki
Structural Engineer: IIJIMA Structural Design Office, Takao Michikura
Lighting Designer: Koizumi Lighting Technology, Atsuko Fujita

Text description provided by the architects. Everlong which has changeable structure, RC and Wood exists perpetually for living in an urban location.

Explanation design

Everlong which has borrowed urban scenery exists in a central position of Nagoya city, Japanese typical urban location. The area that a commercial and a residential district has been considered to be sphere of influence and this townscape has been changing rapidly. Under the circumstances, architecture in the area needs to provide for various purposes.

Many Japanese residences constructed with RC structure have scraped early stages, about 30~40 years despite the RC having the long use years, over 60 or 70 years, because the RC structure has been inflexible for the changes of the time. To live long is to outlive many. Thus, the house requires changeable components of architecture. First of all, 10 RC bands hold small width walls. In order to stand horizontal forth of earthquakes the bands perform strongly. The house is ringed by the 10 RC bands consequently creating borrowed urban scenery.

Second, wooden floors set on the each bands for housing requirements. This structural component has capable for the changes because the wooden structure provides easily extension and reconstruction. In addition, uniquely the component has possibility to change for height. At that time, 10 RC bands and wooden floors function as a recombination shelf.

Moreover, in the internal space, Japanese Shoji, right weight walls make various spaces plastically and satisfactory environment. In the west side, the walls make an insulating air layer between large windows and internal spaces. Working an air conditioner, the walls change air volume of the spaces. In order to live perpetually in the urban area the house continues changing in the long term and the short term.