Jun 15
Japanese architects, Suppose Design Office, have made a virtue of difficult site conditions for a house in Kitakamakura.
The plot of land on the outskirts of Kitakamakura was uneven and steep. Suppose Design Office’s concept required minimum excavation, resulting in cost savings - much of the house cantilevers over the steep gradient while creating sheltered outdoor spaces.
Unsure of the stresses that such a build would place the a retaining wall the practice opted for a dual support system of concrete shafts and a steel framework. These shafts are set slightly away from the wall, meaning that ‘natural’ spaces are created for outside areas such as a bath terrace, Japanese garden and green garden. The architect’s commented: ‘the concrete will create a quiet, enclosed space while an open space is created by the steel framework’.
The steel and concrete structural system are exposed in the interior. The concrete is left untreated, with traces of the formwork still evident. The outline of the steel frame becomes apparent with the almost completely glazed private elevation. The open plan space, which utilises the steepness of the site through a series of split levels and mezzanines is softened by the wooden beams and staircase as well as the high quality furnishings.
Suppose Design Office, who have experience handling challenging sites, said of the house at Kitakamakura: ‘what was once viewed as a site with poor building conditions can be changed into land with great possibilities. Rather than looking at the negative side, we would like to continue searching for these possibilities by accepting all that these sites have to offer’.
Location: Kitakamakura, Kanagawa, Japan
Type of project: single family house
Structural Engineers: Nawakenji-m/Kenji Nawa
Project Architect: Suppose Design Office, Makoto Tanijiri
Design Team: Hayato Komatsu, Kazutaka Sumi
Main Contractor: Eiko Kensetsu
Photography: Toshiyuki Yano (Nacasa & Partners Inc.)
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