Architects: junya ishigami + associates
Area: 270 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: junya.ishigami+associates, YASHIRO PHOTO OFFICE, Photo Ikko Dobashi, maison owl
Manufacturers: Akita Kensetsu Co., Ltd.
Structural Engineering: Jun Sato Structural Engineers
Lighting Design: Junya Ishigami+associates
Interior Design: Junya Ishigami+associates
Lighting Advisor: Izumi Okayasu Lighting Design
MEP Contractor: Echo Mechanical Plumber
Landscape Contractor: SOLSO
Glass Contractor: Meiji Glass Company Limited, Kensuke Kashihara
Person in Charge: Junya Ishigami, Taeko Abe, Jaehyub Ko, Takuya Nakayama
Structural Engineering Person in Charge: Jun Sato, Yoshihiro Fukushima
Lighting Design Person in Charge: Junya Ishigami, Takuya Nakayama
Interior Design Person in Charge: Junya Ishigami, Takuya Nakayama
Lighting Advisor Person in Charge: Izumi Okayasu
Curtain: Yoko Ando
General Contractor: Masato Akita, Gaku Matsumoto, Takaki Fukuda, Takuya Nakayama, Akane Enda, Yuki Inoue
MEP Contractor Person in Charge: Koichi Tashiro
Landscape Contractor Person in Charge: Kazuya Kiryu
Fixtures Person in Charge: Yoshio Yanagiya
Furniture Person in Charge: Shigeki Miyamoto, Ai Mizuta
Rc Furniture Person in Charge: Hayato Takehashi
Client: Motonori Hirata
Curtains: Yoko Ando Design
General Contractor: Akita Kensetsu Co.,Ltd.
City: Ube
Country: Japan
House & Restaurant, designed by Junya Ishigami + Associates, merges a residence with a French restaurant, reflecting the owner’s vision of a timeless, “heavy” structure that ages authentically. The layout places the restaurant on the north and the residence on the south, connected by three courtyards that integrate family life with hospitality. The design process embraced imperfections, with concrete poured into hand-dug holes and left covered in soil, creating a cave-like atmosphere. Unexpected spaces from construction discrepancies influenced the placement of glass, furniture, and systems. Plumbing was streamlined through the courtyards, with pipes and fixtures integrated seamlessly. This adaptive approach resulted in a space that evolves organically, serving as both a home and a restaurant.
The project combines a residence and a restaurant for a French restaurant owner who previously commissioned the Tables for a Restaurant. The owner, an old acquaintance of the architect, requested a design that felt as “heavy” as possible, emphasizing an architecture that would gain presence and character with time. He expressed a desire for a structure that was rough and natural, avoiding artificial smoothness, as he believed authentic cuisine required such an environment. He envisioned a building that appeared timeless, as though it had always existed and would remain for generations. His concept was to create a newly built yet long-established restaurant that could be passed down to his children and grandchildren. The design blends domestic and commercial spaces, allowing the owner to host restaurant guests as if inviting them into his home. For special occasions, he welcomes certain guests into his private living areas, even offering overnight stays. When the restaurant is not in operation, the dining hall transforms into a family space for activities or a study area for the children. The layout places the restaurant on the north side and the residence on the south, connected by three courtyards that provide a transitional flow between the two areas. These courtyards create an intimate connection while maintaining the functionality of each distinct space.
The construction process was conceived as an ongoing method of sharing, accepting, and referencing the inherent imperfections and unexpected occurrences on-site, resulting in architecture that embraces natural distortions and uncertainties. Specifically, the process involved digging a hole in the ground to pour concrete, excavating the resulting volume, and installing glass to define the interior spaces.
The construction process began with a mass model, refined through numerous modifications, which was converted into 3D data. This data was fed into a total station (TS) survey instrument to pinpoint locations using a navigation system for pile driving. Concurrently, construction workers manually excavated the site with precision, constantly verifying the position and shape using an iPad. Unpredictable elements, such as grass growth, soil collapses, and errors from manual labor, were accommodated as much as possible. Once the concrete structure was excavated, it was found caked with mud, and the soil’s texture and appearance varied due to geological differences. Although the original plan was to wash off the dirt to reveal a gray concrete structure, the mud’s natural appearance was so compelling that it was left intact. This decision evoked the ambiance of a cave, prompting a redesign of the building to reflect this new inspiration.
The interior design process involved creating 3D visualizations to compare the design drawings with the actual surface coordinates of the excavated structure. This approach uncovered unanticipated spaces resulting from overlapping discrepancies, which led to redefining how the architecture could be inhabited. The design process was reversed, using the structure itself to guide decisions on the placement and number of glass pieces, furniture arrangement and dimensions, and the positioning of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) elements. For instance, the placement of glass was adjusted based on precise on-site measurements, and 3D scan data was used to ensure the glass would not break during construction or when opened or closed, while hinge positions were refined accordingly. Plumbing routes were simplified by aligning the water supply and drainage to pass through the three courtyards in a straight line, with faucets, drainage pipes, and ventilation ducts carefully installed to penetrate the glass windows and integrate seamlessly into the rooms.
By embracing uncertainties, the concrete mass will evolve into architecture through a process of trial and refinement. The owner will begin living on-site, operate the restaurant, and continually renew and adapt the space over time.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
