Kengo Kuma & Associates

Yama-Tani Housing

Yama-Tani Housing 

Kengo Kuma & Associates

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Rubner, Rehago

DESIGN TEAM
Kengo Kuma, Chizuko Kawarada, Charlotte Brussieux, Marika Maione*, Mathieu Faliu*, Maria Cervantes*, Michael Albric* (*former Staff)

CONSTRUCTION SITE MANAGEMENT
Eqo Engineering

ACOUSTICS ENGINEERING
Aïda Acoustic

ENGINEERING
Eqo Engineering, S2t Fluids

CLIENT
Rei Habitat

PHOTOGRAPHS
Sergio Grazia

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
Paris, France

CATEGORY
Housing

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia

Text description provided by architect.

Yama Tani is a small wooden housing project located in the northeast of Paris. Unlike the high-rise buildings in the surrounding area, its street is made up of buildings from 2 or 3 floors up to 5.

We therefore aspire to recreate a human scale like in a village and to bring nature into the building.

Our strategy consists of revealing the possibility of a wide space in a limited volume: through a stepped composition, the building is open in the south-east corner to bring a maximum of sunlight in its center.

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia

Also, most of the apartments are façade to façade, and all benefit from an outdoor space such as balcony, loggia or terraces and rooftop. The accommodations are served by exterior distribution corridors, which provide fluidity between the outside and the inside.

Porosity and softness to feel quiet and more connected to the season and the weather. Feel comfortable. Thus, each appartement has direct access from the outside.

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia

A backyard garden places nature as the central element. This is visible from the street, like a gentle call giving a depth to the view.

The warmth of wood brings a unique sensation of softness. The inertia of this material provides significant well-being, different acoustics, attractive dry heating, and a qualitative atmosphere in the home.

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia

The wood species are chosen according to the expected design: pre-aged chestnut for the main street facade which is hard enough to allow a precise pleated junction, Douglas smoother for the courtyard façade which also becomes naturally silver over time.

Playing with its fold, the main façade on the street revisits the relief of the peak of the mountain and the valley: each section of wood receives the sun following its course.

This main façade breaks the linearity and livens up the street: a special vibration which makes the building unique.

Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia


Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia
Yama-Tani Housing
© Sergio Grazia


Yama-Tani Housing
Plan - Ground Floor
Yama-Tani Housing
Plan - 1st Floor
Yama-Tani Housing
Site Plan


Yama-Tani Housing
Elevation
Yama-Tani Housing
Logo

Kengo Kuma & Associates
T +81 3 3401 7721 F +81 3 3401 7778
Kengo Kuma & Associates
2 Chome-24-8 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan