House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Exterior Photography, Windows, CityscapeHouse in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, BrickHouse in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Living Room, Table, Sofa, WindowsHouse in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, WindowsHouse in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - More Images+ 17

Ginowan, Japan
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House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Exterior Photography, Windows, Cityscape
© Toshihisa Ishii

Single-storey-like architecture on a slope. The site locates on top of a hill in the Northern part of Okinawa. Although it used to have a panoramic view of the vast plain and ocean from this area, since dramatic urbanization has changed the scenery in this region, it barely has visibility of the ocean anymore. 

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Exterior Photography, Windows, Cityscape
© Toshihisa Ishii
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Image 22 of 22
Plan - Site

A house for a family of 5 was requested on the sloping land. The initial proposal was to build a multi-storey building to regain the vista toward the ocean. As it seemed a sensible solution to construct a multi-storey building to reduce the building footprint and amount of groundwork on a slope at the beginning.

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Brick
© Toshihisa Ishii
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Image 20 of 22
Plan - Ground Floor
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Living Room, Table, Sofa, Windows
© Toshihisa Ishii

However, after a series of meetings with the client, we realized that their fascinatingly warm and close connection with family members had been yielded from their way of living at a moderate size apartment where they lived at that time.   

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Windows
© Toshihisa Ishii
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Living Room, Sofa, Beam
© Toshihisa Ishii

Subsequently, our aim shifted from a multi-storey to a single-storey-like building to maintain their intimate family relationship by somehow transferring their style of living, which was a relatively less organized one, from their apartment to the new house rather than separate floors to obtain a view from the upper level.

5 different levels of floors were planned in 6m level difference from east to west of the site. Each room was located to avoid direct sunlight from the west.

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Table, Chair
© Toshihisa Ishii
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Chair, Windows
© Toshihisa Ishii

As the building sits on sloping ground, construction would become more difficult than the initial proposal. However, the spaces between the upper floor along the front road, Living Room in the middle, and the kids' Room at the bottom were all connected and could achieve openness and accessibility as if it is a single-storey house. Despite the view toward the ocean which was the client’s initial request not achieved, their delightful way of living was transferred to the new house and they have created even more intimate family relationships since they moved in.

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography
© Toshihisa Ishii
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Image 21 of 22
Section
House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Interior Photography
© Toshihisa Ishii

The vigorous-colored concrete facade has a vernacular appearance as if the red-colored soil was elevated from the sloping ground of the southern island of Japan. After all, we believe that architectural form follows the geography of the project.

House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates - Exterior Photography, Windows
© Toshihisa Ishii

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About this office
Cite: "House in Ginowan / Matsuyama Architect and Associates" 26 Jan 2023. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/995448/house-in-ginowan-matsuyama-architect-and-associates> ISSN 0719-8884

© Toshihisa Ishii

5层楼的“单层”建筑,宜野湾住宅 / 松山建筑设计室

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