House in Sayo

House in Sayo

Den Nen Architecture

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

CONTRACTOR
Asj Amagasaki・studio In Itami, Yoshikawagumi Co.ltd.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Kensuke Noto, 拙計画工房

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Naohiro Sumi, Shuhei Morita

MANUFACTURERS
Atom Company 

PHOTOGRAPHS
Eiji Tomita

AREA
141 M²  

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Sayo, Japan

CATEGORY
Houses

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

Text description provided by architect.

This home is sited among villas within the grounds of a golf course that also has tennis courts and a hot springs spa. It is outside of the urban planning area.

From the road to the site is an uphill slope with an elevation difference of up to 6m. Behind the site lies an expansive landscape of wooded hillsides and golf course fairways.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

The clients, a couple of golf lovers, wanted a place for special moments of reunion with gathered family and friends while enjoying a view of the fairway. To give their gatherings the desired view, the living-dining area had to be built at an elevation 6m above the road level.

I wanted to let this elderly married couple enjoy the 6m height, but an ascent to the living-dining area was also needed.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

Of course I also planned for a panoramic view of the landscape to become an integral part of the living – dining space.

When viewed from the road, parallel to the slope surface, there are three large sloping eaves with a large overhang, and the two planes with large volumes are connected, passing through the corridor. 

The home's cubic volume is minimized as much as possible by structuring it with four floor levels cascading along the sloped site.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

In contrast to the many large homes in this vacation community, I wanted this residence to be adapted to the environment with quiet dignity. An exposed concrete wall faces the front walkway.

A thin, horizontally elongated roof is visible, and as one enters from the gate, an inner garden of plantings is seen to the left, and a bench to the right.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

The walkway continues until reaching the foyer. From the front door, a corridor leads to the back, connecting to the living-dining-kitchen area.

Three stairs go up to the dining-kitchen, which has the highest floor level and a total height difference of 3m, and stairs continue to the second floor, while rooms and bathrooms are arranged on the way.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

East and south of the living-dining-kitchen area, there is a wooden frame with cedar paneling and wide glass windows. The fairway and expansive natural landscape are visible outside.

Also, a large terrace is located at the south side of the dining-kitchen, where the whole family can enjoy an outdoor barbecue while taking in the surrounding greenery.

House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita
House in Sayo
© Eiji Tomita

Wrapped within a backdrop of natural beauty, this residence is the perfect place to enjoy leisurely at-home time with family and friends, and outdoor fun times as well.


House in Sayo
Section


House in Sayo
First Floor Plan
House in Sayo
Second Floor Plan