Kimuramatsumoto Architects Office

Shino

Shino
© Yuko Tada

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yuko Tada

AREA
118.5 m²

YEAR
2012

LOCATION
Wakayama, Japan

CATEGORY
House

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

Text description provided by architect.

The mountainside property is surrounded by vast rice paddies and fields for growing vegetables, and a narrow waterway winding around them.

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

Between these fields are scattered houses and sheds.

On what was previously a rice paddy, we planned to build a one-story house to be lived in by our coworker's family of four.

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

Firstly, we placed a 17 x 10 m roof in the middle of the property. Next, by keeping a 14 x 6.4 m one-span steel frame slightly angled.

In order to support the roof, we were able to construct a large single structure.

And then, below the structure, we placed floor, nested rooms, furniture and curtains, giving a direction, respectively.

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

They are surrounded with the frame which consisted of thin steel materials, exterior walls made of wood and glass.

Solid steel props, of exterior walls made of wood and glass ( 32 x 50 mm ) or of curtains ( 30 x 30mm ) are large in number, so the dimensions of them are small.

In contrast, square tubular steel columns ( 250 x 250 mm ) supporting the large roof are few in number, yet we can recognize the direction of this space by their large dimensions.

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

In regard to how the flow of water has characterized this area, people have built their sheds, houses, electrical wires, and managed tree windbreaks, and fields.

From simplifying these specific natural land formations and following coordination of people's lives in the area, we composed environmental elements. 

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

Based on the characteristics of these environmental elements, we composed fitting architectural elements.

This space has revealed itself as not only having the characteristics of a house, but having those of a landscape.

Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada

Through this project, we planned the situation of "living in an environment," rather than, "living in a house."


Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada


Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada
Shino
© Yuko Tada


Shino
Site Plan
Shino
Plan


Shino
Section

Kimuramatsumoto Architects Office
T +81 7 57481934 F +81 75 7481934
Kimuramatsumoto Architects Office
58-1, Toujiin-Kitamachi, Kita-Ku, Kyoto-Shi, Kyoto 6038341, Japan