House In Tochigi
HOUSE IN TOCHIGI
Tsuyoshi Oshiyama Architects
ARCHITECTS
Tsuyoshi Oshiyama Architects
LEAD ARCHITECT
Tsuyoshi Oshiyama
LEAD TEAM
Tsuyoshi Oshyama
MANUFACTURERS
CERA Tradibg (Removed), IOC, Kmew, NEW LIGHT POTTERY, miratap
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Futasugi Kogyo Inc.
ENGINEERING & CONSULTING > STRUCTURAL
Mono
PHOTOGRAPHS
Ryosei Watanabe
AREA
248 m²
YEAR
2023
LOCATION
Tochigi, Japan
CATEGORY
Houses
English description provided by the architects.
The site lies in a semi-rural neighborhood where land has been reorganized into a patchwork of houses and rice fields.
The client, an avid gardener, envisioned a home where they could enjoy planting greenery, requesting a calm and tranquil atmosphere.
Because the building is visible from all directions, mechanical equipment such as boilers, outdoor units, and rain gutters has been positioned discreetly while remaining accessible for maintenance.
Given the generous site relative to the building volume, the design moves beyond the typical "house with a garden," instead creating a richer dialogue between the architecture, the open spaces within the site, and the surrounding landscape.
The house is a minimalist, box-like composition, formed by stacked and shifted volumes. Exterior walls follow this rhythm, creating a layered spatial experience.
Through the design process, a series of unique gardens emerged: a sweeping, arcing front approach, a north garden for the Japanese-style room, and a bedroom garden framing the client's favorite tree.
These gardens weave into the plan, deepening the connection between house and landscape.
Cantilevered volumes projecting toward the approach and garden give the architecture a distinctive, sculptural presence.
Over the years, as the trees have matured, the once-crisp architecture has softened, lending the home a gentle, composed presence within its neighborhood.
