Gradation in the Forest House

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

GRADATION IN THE FOREST HOUSE

Kotoaki Asano Architect & Associates

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Karuizawa, Japan

AREA
137 m²

ENGINEERING
Shibamura Structural Engineers, Toyohito Shibamura

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yukio Yoshimura

LEAD ARCHITECT
Kotoaki Asano

MANUFACTURERS
Nemetschek, Sangetsu, YKK AP, INAX Corporation, JFE, Toli Corporation

“Gradation in the Forest” is a summer house in a forest. In this area, the formation of the beautiful scenery by the regulations is advanced.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

The forest is composed of Japanese larch trees with straight vertical silhouettes, and the houses stand calmly and sparsely in the forest.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

This house, “Gradation in the Forest”, is part of a collection of small spaces, as if the house might melt into the environment of the woods.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

There are no big towns within walking distance and residents have more time to spend in the house. So, various spaces were prepared in order to make the living environment rich.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

In “Gradation in the Forest”, a gradual change of the quality of spaces has been made, as shown in the picture of "Metamorphosis" by M.C. Escher.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

In this house, the spaces, having various characteristics, exist as the process of continuous changes with ambiguous boundaries. Many spaces have maintained respectively the unique characteristics of each space.

Moreover, many spaces are smoothly sewn together. So, the boundaries of spaces may be melted away.

This principle is reflected in each aspect of the design, such as connection methods of spaces, structural methods, finishing materials, windows, walls, and roofs, etc.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura

Moreover, the outline of the building is decided by the arrangement and the placement of various cubes. I would like to give the unit space both the centrifugal character with repeatability and the centripetal character with independence. Different cubes have different structural methods.

The reinforced concrete structure, steel frame structure, wooden structure, and so on. In addition, various finishing materials are used properly for each cube. My design has the intention to amplify the character of each area. Plywood, wood board, cement board, exposed concrete, Japanese paper, gypsum board, glass, metal plate, and so on.

Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura


Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura
Gradation in the Forest House
© Yukio Yoshimura


Gradation in the Forest House
Elevation
Gradation in the Forest House
Elevation


Gradation in the Forest House
Section detail
Gradation in the Forest House
Section detail


Gradation in the Forest House
Diagram
Gradation in the Forest House
Diagram


Gradation in the Forest House
Plan
Gradation in the Forest House
Plan
Gradation in the Forest House
Site