in the rush to prepare for the 1964 Games, and to increase the use of renewable energy in Tokyo from 6 to 20 percent by 2020.
Many of the houses in this book are built with modern materials and techniques, yet all express some aspect of the traditional dynamics of Japanese architectural space and sensibilities. This desire to connect to a more sustainable past to build a more sustainable future is growing, particularly among younger generations who have grown up in dense urbanism and for whom old ways are intriguingly new. But as society turns green, will the wider construction industry follow? Japan builds some of the most advanced, seismically sound buildings in the world. Can it start to build some of the most sustainable? With a built heritage that is a model of sustainability, a recent history that is not and a new generation concerned for the future, Japan has choices to make. As shown by the projects, houses and homeowners in this book, Japan has the tools needed to lead the way internationally to a more sustainable built environment. The question remains, will it?
Traditional Ainu architecture meets high-tech construction in Kengo Kuma’s Même Meadows (page 116).
CHAPTER 1
BORROWED LANDSCAPES
PUTTING NATURE IN THE DESIGN
This section looks at projects that incorporate nature in the design, quite literally, whether by including actual trees and gardens as natural ‘green curtains’ or by employing the age-old Japanese concept of shakkei, or ‘borrow landscape’, in which exterior nature views are made part of the interior experience of the home.
Architecture and nature were closely linked in traditional Japanese building. In pre-modern Japan, houses were made of renewable natural materials and gardens were features in high-end houses as well as at the heart of dense working-class city blocks. The dense concrete urbanity of contemporary Japan has taken much of the green out of everyday life. A garden has now become something one occasionally visits.
American biologist and naturalist E. O. Wilson has hypothesized that human beings have an instinctive bond with other living systems, that is, nature. According to Wilson, “Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.” Our living spaces should reflect this natural affinity, bringing in natural light, fresh air and a sense of place.
Can bringing nature into the home really make people happier and homes healthier and more sustainable? These projects suggest that it does. Yasushi Horibe’s House in Tateshina frames nature as an ever-changing work of art. Uemachi Laboratory’s House in Nara echoes and embellishes its tranquil garden setting. With a small footprint, natural materials and a unique design open to and respectful of its verdant and historic environment, acaa’s House in Kita-Kamakura adds to the already abundant beauty of its surroundings. Rhythmdesign’s House in Raizan Forest floats on a hill in a forest, creating tree-filled views and the lightest footprint possible. And in a dense Tokyo suburb, architect café brings a bit of rural greenery in its House in Komae.
HOUSE IN KITA-KAMAKURA
ARCHITECT ACAA—KAZUHIKOKISHIMOTO
LOCATION KITA-KAMAKURA, KANAGAWA PREFECTURE
COMPLETION 2008
Asymmetrical openings are strategically placed for function as well as creating a playful profile to the neighborhood.
This house is set in one of the loveliest parts of Kamakura, an ancient capital encircled by rolling green hills and the sea. Modern Kamakura is a lively community attracting an eclectic mix of artists, artisans, surfers, Zen Buddhists and quite a number of young architects, inspired by the traditional architecture and creative atmosphere of the area. Within commuting distance of Tokyo, it is a place where many dream of having a house. Unsurprisingly, space is limited and land hard to find and expensive. So when you have a plot in the very sought-after area of Kita-Kamakura (North Kamakura), you do not quibble about an irregularly shaped site, you simply figure out how to make the most of it.
To this end, the owners chose wisely in architect Kazuhiko Kishimoto, founder of architectural studio acca. Specializing in residential architecture, acca’s approach mixes an international outlook with a strong sense of place. Kishimoto considers the house as the purest expression of architecture’s relationship with the land. He credits the work of Australian architect Glenn Murcutt, known for articulating the qualities of site into architecture, as an influence on his own designs. Likewise, acca pays close attention to the precise setting, environment and climate of each project and works closely with those who do the physical building: the carpenters, metalworkers and plasterers. Their designs offer contemporary interpretations of vernacular forms with a decidedly Japanese focus on detail and craftsmanship. The result is a portfolio of finely wrought houses that fit beautifully into their surroundings.
Kita-Kamakura is characterized by a series of narrow valleys with tendrils of roads dotted with temples, shrines and individual homes. This house is located not far from a Buddhist temple dating to the fourteenth century, the picturesque Meigetsu-in. The valley leading to the temple features several distinct houses, none more eye-catching than this elongated structure. The plot is long but, due to zoning regulations the building’s footprint must be less than three meters wide. In such a tight spot, it is important to build with respect for neighbors, creating something that participates in and adds to a verdant but densely populated area.
ACAA makes the most of this unusual plot, giving the house a curved serpentine footprint and an elegant two-story profile 23 meters long and a mere 2.7 metres wide. The exterior’s cladding echoes the Japanese charred wood technique, which was traditionally used for water-, fire- and bug-proofing (see page 232). Silvery black wood articulates the exterior, catching the light at varying angles along the home’s undulating façade. Glimpses of a light wood interior add to the asymmetrical rhythm of the profile.
Irregular openings add expression to the exterior and help to control light, heat and privacy in the interior. Inside, the surrounding landscape comes from varied angles as each window is carefully placed to optimize views from the interior and maximize privacy from the exterior.
The balcony juts forth, creating a sheltered parking space below.
The blackened vertical planks balance the horizontal line of the house.
The upper floor kitchen leads to a raised sitting area.
Bamboo grows in the interior courtyard.
Plan and cross-section: The house may be only three meters wide, yet the house has 108.06 square meters of living space over various levels.
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