Architects  Edward Suzuki Associates

House of Maple

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

HOUSE OF MAPLE

Edward Suzuki Associates

ARCHITECTS
Edward Suzuki Associates

LOCATION
Karuizawa-machi, Japan

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
677.25 m²

YEAR
2010

PHOTGORAPHS
Yasuhiro Nukamura

Text description provided by architect.

HOUSE OF MAPLE LEAVES

This is a villa situated about an hour’s rapid train ride from Tokyo in a mountain resort of Karuizawa, Japan.

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

It is basically a wooden structure with the peripheral balconies in steel. The design is adapted from passive energy principles applied in the world-famous Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto.

The only artificially operated system is the radiant hot-water heating embedded in the floor, running the entire length of the peripheral fenestration with heat pump air conditioning units as supplements just in case.

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

Legal and binding design guidelines in the area required a roof slope of 1:5 minimum, eave length of 5oo mm minimum, and a limited selection of exterior coloring.

Natural passive energy means include but are not limited to the following:

1) Exterior insulation with
2) Air circulation paths in between exterior and interior finishes
3) Cross ventilation under the ground floor to protect against humidi

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

4) Overall cross ventilation with openable windows
5) Complete fenestration on the south with
6) Airtight, high-insulation composite sash with
7) Double-pane glass

8) Allowing low winter sun penetration and blocking high summer sun
9) Use of deciduous trees in the south similarly allowing low winter sun penetration and blocking high summer sun

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

10) Extended eaves to provide shade
11) Double floor living space to act as passive solar collector
12) Fireplace in the living space to burn trash

13) Ceiling fans to circulate warm air
14) Highly insulating natural Japanese stucco (with embedded maple leaves)

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura

15) Use of laminated bamboo instead of wood for floors, built-in furniture, cabinets, doors, and closets, as bamboo is very fast-growing (and hence more ecological than wood) and profusely abundant in Japan)

16) Use of fluorescent and LED lights
17) Corrugated metal exterior finish for easy maintenance and sustainability
18) Reflective silver roofing for insulation and temperature control

House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura


House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura
House of Maple
© Yasuhiro Nukamura


House of Maple
sections
House of Maple
elevation


House of Maple
1st floor plan
House of Maple
2nd floor plan

Architects  Edward Suzuki Associates
Architects  Edward Suzuki Associates