Sou | atelier thu

Higashi-ikoma where surrounded by the ikoma-mountain and the Yada-hills still left some nature. On the other hand Higashi-ikoma is high-end residential as same as Gakuen-Toshi since it has been developed as estate by Kintetsu.

The planned land in Higashi-ikoma is located middle of a small hill which could avoid large-scale development on the North of the ikoma line. After we drive up narrow road the land will appear in front of you.

The land has two faces the both South area and North area, the most of South are is sloping land, and North area has a tiny flatland and there is an old one-story house. Additionally North of the land is peaceful green area. The land seems like an untouchable area, but we consider that we could use this area as “characteristic of abandoned place”.

The owner who loves outdoor requests are “one –story house with wood-deck and the loft space is planned as a bedroom”. However, the land is not wide enough to plan one-story house, if we planned one-story house in the land the plan will be same volume as two-stories house. To solve it we start planning with adjusting floor level of each rooms based the loft which is the bed room.

When you sit on the stairwell from the study 2nd floor you can see sloping land on South, and if you look back North side, the peaceful green is spread, by that you would feel “you are nestling on the hill”. And once, you open the windows in the study and the dining comfortable breeze will blow through the house, also you can hear song of neighbor birds and cat chatting from the north.

The house has been the connection of “the abandoned place” and “The nestling space on the hill”.

Roof: Galvalume steel plate standing flat roof
Outer wall: Sugiita (Tokushima cedar)
Foundation rising part: Painted wall of mixed material of Iocal soil and cement
Eaves: Sugiita (Tokushima Cedar)
Ceiling: conifer plywood, Yonematsu beams, rafters
Inner wall: China plywood
1st floor: oak flooring
2nd floor: cedar flooring (Yoshinosugi)
Joinery: China plywood
Joinery: Toga
Outside frame: Hiba
Stairs; concrete slabs, rebar, local ground beating
Deck: Japanese cypress
Planting: Aodamo, Natsuhaze
Pendant lighting: Bullet small/brass / new light pottery