For a family who loves mountain climbing, we used creative exterior wall design to create a home filled with wood, even in the heart of the city where fire regulations are strict. We ran multiple simulations for the skylights to ensure the entire house would be filled with a soft, uniform light. For the kitchen and other details, we collaborated with local artisans to meet the clients' specific requests.Since the streets in Sendagi are narrow and long pieces of lumber couldn't be brought in, the house was built with a two-story wooden structure resting on a reinforced concrete base. By shifting the house's orientation away from the road, we made effective use of the irregular site. From the windows, you can experience a dynamic and unexpected view.
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In the back of a winding alley in Sendagi, a vacant lot was created by the demolition of an apartment building. Due to the four-way subdivision of the property, the northern end became an irregularly shaped plot. A couple chose this northernmost end to build a new home for their family of four. To the north of the site are traditional two-story wooden houses, while to the south, a new three-story, regularly-shaped house has begun to be built. Due to the narrow road and difficult access for material delivery, the structure was limited to wood. The client, who enjoys mountain climbing and camping, wanted a simple house that could accommodate hanging items like hammocks and swings. It felt unnatural to simply cover such a house with uniform fireproof materials, just because it's in the city.Therefore, we used continuous pillars of a length that could just barely be brought in, and made the exterior walls a fire-resistant structure, which allowed us to expose the wooden framework of the ceiling. On the first floor, we created an earth-floored space (doma) and a porch to store and maintain outdoor gear. We created a void to allow morning light to reach the wet areas in the back. In the afternoon, light reflects off the mirrored sliding doors, filling the space with a soft brightness. On the second and third floors, sunlight entering the upper part of the building is diffused throughout the entire house via a top light and a glass floor. The glass is precisely fixed with rubber without sealant, so the client can easily replace the material. When the top light is opened, a breeze flows through the stairs.Although the staircase is at the center of the house, it follows the wall due to the plot's unique irregularity, allowing light and wind to pass through while providing flexibility for daily life. Here, the building is not parallel to the boundary of the front road. Since the plot extends diagonally inward, we incorporated this diagonal axis into the architecture, offsetting it from the road's axis. We hoped that this would create a new relationship between the house and the town. The design allows the connection to the ground to gradually fade as one moves upward, and the misalignment with the town's orientation to be perceived as a subtle sensory shift. On the first floor, the road, the ground, and one's body are continuous, facing the diagonal wall. As you ascend to the second floor, your body acclimates to the diagonal due to the effects of the beams and floor, and you can dynamically experience the shift from the town through the north and south windows. On the third floor, most elements of the building are diagonal, making the diagonal seem straight and calming. From there, when you look out the window, the town appears to have a diagonal face, leaping into view. We have carefully woven this fluctuation (back and forth) of sensation into the daily enjoyment of the house.