The site is an area located near the city center of Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The plot area has more than enough space to build a residence, but fulfilling the client’s requirements would result in clearly exceeding the scale of the surroundings. Thus, we planned the residence not as a single block, but as a building that considers and fits well with the scale of the surrounding environment.
First, we scattered various rooms in the shape of box according to the boundary lines of the site and arranged for the spaces between the rooms to be corridors that allowed for the enjoyment of looking at the courtyard and yards. The size of each room was adapted to fit the surrounding environment and the layout of the rooms were decided by constructing various everyday situations and stories, also accommodating to future lifestyle changes.
It was a divided ridge-style plan, but by directing one’s vision to the large courtyard situated in the center, we also created a sense of unity as a residence. When the windows of each yard are opened, the wind passes through, and the sensation of being amidst nature can be felt even while indoors, with the sound of rustling foliage, the fragrance of flowers, and the chirping of birds visiting the yards.
The eight courtyards born from the spaces between rooms each have their own features with regards to the scale, height, lighting, and ventilation, creating a residence where various expressions created by the changing seasons can be enjoyed.
