Architects: IGArchitects
Area: 115 m²
Year: 2023
Photography: Ooki Jingu
Lead Architect: Masato Igarashi
Structural Engineering: EQSD
Construction: Komori Construction, Hakaru Komori
Structural Engineer: Yousuke Misaki
City: Fukushima
Country: Japan
IGArchitects introduced a two-family home in Fukushima, Japan, meticulously designed to honor both communal living and individual privacy in 2023. Situated on a flagpole plot with a mountain backdrop and surrounded by existing homes, the structure adopts a boomerang shape to maximize views and integrate the landscape. The design cleverly balances open communal spaces with private areas, using a forest of strategically placed pillars and discrete boxes housing private functions. This arrangement creates a seamless flow between the indoors and the lush greenery outside, crafting an indoor environment that mimics a natural forest’s peacefulness and rough texture.
The architectural design integrates a dual-family dwelling, emphasizing a singular-level layout that maximizes communal and private spaces. The architects devised a scheme incorporating natural elements from the adjacent mountain to balance open and enclosed areas.
The structure is notably shaped like a boomerang, tracing the mountain’s contour with its south facade opening expansively. Privacy is maintained through strategically positioned walls that obscure views from nearby properties, while clerestory windows above these barriers create the illusion of a floating roof. The interior hosts a vast open area delineated by box structures that segregate private functions such as restrooms and baths. This arrangement, alongside a series of pillars, enriches the space with a park-like ambiance conducive to various activities.
The design features uniformly spaced pillars, each 90mm square and 3.5m tall, which mimic closely set furniture and contribute to the interior’s forest-like atmosphere. These elements align with traditional wooden construction principles yet their collective impact, in terms of number and height, extends the outdoor greenery into the interior, fostering an environment that mirrors a natural woodland.
The architectural philosophy behind this project involved deconstructing and then reassembling each component to redefine their relationships. This approach resulted in a structure where the pillars appear to dance independently of the walls, and the roof seems to hover autonomously. The reintegration of these elements creates a dynamic interplay of spaces and vistas, both within and outside the dwelling. The design aims to blend tranquility, reminiscent of a forest, with the raw texture of the earth, achieving a living space that is both serene and vibrant.
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Project Location
Address: Fukushima, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
