House with Podocarpus

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

House with Podocarpus 

Yasutoshi Mifune + Toru Atarashi

ARCHITECTS
Toru Atarashi, Yasutoshi Mifune

BUILDER
Mizokuchi Construction Co.ltd.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yasunori Shimomura

AREA
319 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Osaka, Japan

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

There has been a symbolic podocarpus tree in the premises since the old days. It used to be a little away from the human space and was not seen from the room in a daily life.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

We did not intentionally build unnecessary glass area or opening in consideration of the relation with the surrounding.

For this new construction due to deterioration, the tree was left where it was to strengthen the relation between human and the tree by building a new position and new traffic line.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

The location is in the urban center surrounded by high buildings. A white and flat structure can take in the limited brightness at maximum, enabling us to enjoy slight change of brightness projected on the flat walls by the season and time.

At the same time, wind naturally flows through the building and the center of life traffic line from the yard to yard, showing various changes of nature by the season and time.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

A place for hobby. Shelf, table and chairs are originally designed by Yasutoshi Mifune. They are the furniture created in consideration of the builder’s use.

Rather, it is visually controlled depending on such position and size, leaving blank space by setback to reduce unpleasantness, sense of pressure and privacy issue.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

Brightness is taken into the building at maximum in the daytime with glass and flat white walls, and at the nighttime, brightness from inside is used for exterior.

Bedroom furniture in consideration of the builder’s use. The open terrace can be seen in the back.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

By blurring the boundary of the living area without feeling the fittings, the boundary can be made where necessary depending on the purpose and season having a sense of openness.

When the window is open. The lightened up planting can be seen. Storage furniture for clothes and books. The original pattern and coloring create enjoyment, gorgeousness and liveliness.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

The patio changes to be a fantastic place different from the daytime by the lightened up podocarpus tree.

Patio in the daytime. Walking under the tree, and sitting down by the tree sometimes, and from the room, liveliness and sense of security of the tree can be felt at all times. Center back is the entrance.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

There is no uneven level down to the terrace in the back to blur the boundary between inside and outside when the window is open. The center is a desk for work, and the right side is a storage furniture for clothes and books.

Minimum building based on the straight lines by white flat plaster-coated walls and concrete fences. The center is the stainless gate and the end is the garage entrance.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

Living and dining room with a sense of openness. A podocarpus tree can be seen from the window, and slight change of brightness is projected on the white walls by the season and time.

The interior is elaborated to create enjoyment, gorgeousness and liveliness by using strong color in the minimum space precisely because it is the place used by the elderly.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

Taking account of the builder’s age, we reduced burden and risk in the life traffic line by avoiding uneven level from the entire room to the terrace for easily expanding activity range.

Simultaneously, by making the fittings with sliding doors, wind flow can be adjusted. Furthermore, nursing care can be given and the elderly can handle without problem.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

Fittings are necessary in life for privacy and air conditioning, etc., but become rather distracting when unneeded.

We believe this house can be resided by the elderly with enjoyment, comfortableness and style, but little difficulty, in the aging society as Japan’s issue and environment of urban center. 

Furniture and lighting equipment are designed to be functional and fit the space in consideration of the builder’s lifestyle.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura

By creating minimum surrounding with new round fence for the tree, form and existence of the tree are maximized. Walking under the tree in a daily life, and sitting down by the tree sometimes.

Being in the room, liveliness and sense of security can be felt from the tree and at night it gives fantastic comfort, different from the daytime. It is believed to have become the core and close existence.

Minimum Japanese style room. Buddhist alter appears when the front slide panel is opened.

House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura


House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura
House with Podocarpus
© Yasunori Shimomura


House with Podocarpus
Section 2
House with Podocarpus
Section 1


House with Podocarpus
Floor Plan