Architects: 1110 Office for Architecture
Area: 135 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Yohei Sasakura
Principal Architect: Hiroto Kawaguchi
Architect: Anton Henrard, Kenta Shimamura
City: Chihayaakasaka
Country: Japan
Terraced House by 1110 Office for Architecture renovates a traditional home in Chihaya Akasaka, Osaka Prefecture, to harmonize with its natural surroundings. Set in a village famed for terraced rice fields, the project was commissioned by a young couple seeking a nature-focused lifestyle. The design extends the terraced landscape into the plot and house, opening the ground floor to create a bright living and kitchen area connected to a double-height sunroom. The floor blends seamlessly with the outdoors, serving as a play space for the child. The second floor offers private spaces with panoramic views of mountains and rice paddies. Removing old warehouses allowed for more light and added distinct gardens and terraces, including a cactus garden, a central garden, and a rice terrace for sunsets.
This refurbishment project of a traditional house is located in the village of Chihaya Akasaka in Osaka Prefecture. The village, famously depicted in the Taiheiki, a renowned 14th-century Japanese historical epic, is celebrated for its rugged topography and stunning terraced rice fields. The clients, a young couple with a baby, sought to reconnect with nature and embrace a simpler way of life while creating a healthier and more nurturing environment for their child to grow up in.
The existing house is surrounded by picturesque rice paddies, giving it the appearance of an island amidst the greenery. Despite its solid construction and quality, the house lacked a meaningful connection to its unique and beautiful surroundings. The core idea of the project was therefore straightforward: to understand the context and establish a dialogue between the house and the adjacent terraces. Through photogrammetric studies, a series of sections and models were developed, leading to the realization that the terraces could be extended into the plot and seamlessly integrated into the house itself.
The ground floor was completely opened up, retaining only the essential wooden structure, resulting in a bright and inviting space that functions as a living room and kitchen area. This space connects to a double-height sunroom, which serves as the entrance. The floor is designed to mimic the outdoor environment, creating a seamless extension of the natural surroundings and offering a unique area that doubles as a playroom for the child. The second floor is reserved for the more private areas of the house, with a design that emphasizes and frames the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and rice paddies.
At the scale of the plot, the former warehouses that once surrounded the house were dismantled to allow more natural light and to open up broader perspectives. The new design is now surrounded by a variety of gardens and terraces, each with its own distinct character and atmosphere: a front cactus garden, a central garden, and a rice terrace specifically designed to enjoy sunsets.
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Project Location
Address: Chihayaakasaka, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
