cut-out triangular roof frames extensive panoramas of rural japan

Shotaro Takahashi’s house fosters an intimate bond with nature 

 

Shotaro Takahashi Architects has realized ‘HANARE I’, a residential project on a hill formation in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Located at an altitude of 199m, the site provides 360-degree vistas of the rural area, with the natural scenery unfolding from different directions. The client’s brief was for an architecture that ‘feels nature from a new perspective’, resulting in a close interaction between the build and the landscape.

 

The design team maintained the original hipped roof of the building, generating different visual escapes that overlook the sky and enjoy beautiful sunsets. All the spaces are gathered under the big roof, creating a continuous spatial flow that culminates in two attics. ‘Since we usually live in close proximity to nature, we created an architecture that cut out landscapes that cannot be perceived with normal vision,’ explained the architects.

all images by Shotaro Takahashi Architects | all the spaces are topped by a large hipped roof

 

 

cut-out roof brings the sky & trees closer to inside

 

The entrance to the house is from the southeast side of the building, from an alley next to the main dwelling. This maintains a visual connection between the two structures without compromising the privacy of each. When it comes to the materiality palette, the architects opted for a monochrome interior to tie together all the zones fostering continuity and emphasizing a sense of openness. Thereby, white walls and ceiling dominate the inside, while wooden flooring reflects nuances from the landscape, adding warmth to the domestic enviroment.

 

A slender pillar of cypress is positioned in the heart of the house, which, apart from support, gives a fine touch to the otherwise muted palette. To further enhance the seamless connection of ‘HANARE I’s’ interior and exterior, a cut-out triangular roof adds green accents to the living space, providing a fragment of the external nature. ‘On the southeast side of the hipped gable roof is designed to be an opening, cutting out the passage of air and the natural environment and making the sky and trees come closer.’

 

 

white is used as the main color to create a spacious layout that enhances the sense of unity in the room

the openings in the attic create a bond with the natural surroundings

a slim pillar of cypress rises in the house like a tree

the triangular roof is noticeable from the inside as well 

nestled in a luxuriant green terrain is an inspiration for the design

project info:

 

name: HANARE I

architects: Shotaro Takahashi Architects 

location: Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture

design supervision: Shotaro Takahashi Architects Shotaro Takahashi Ayumu Ueda Yasuko Nakamichi
structural design: Takashi Manda Structural Design Office
construction management: Tamitsu Kenshosha
photography: Koji Fujii / TOREAL

christina petridou I designboom

nov 29, 2022