One Legged House | IGArchitects Masato Igarashi

The site locates on a hill, 300m away from the shore. It has a clear view to the ocean and the wind flow through the place all day long.

Like an opened umbrella, the roof and walls are extended from the only column. It stops at the height where it just blocks the strong sunlight of Okinawa and eyes from the public. Direct sunlight in the Summer does not penetrate inside, and the ocean breeze flows through the space when the windows are opened, which makes the use of air conditioner unnecessary. The exterior walls are made from glass, which is a material that does not age, and that can withstand the harsh environment of Okinawa. With creating only one column, foundation and structural cost was limited to the minimum. By making the details simply with glass, it makes the solid structure to look like its floating. This contrast creates a distinct existence to the building.

The interior is a large open space and the column adds depth to the space. Even though the layout has only one column in the center, it gives the feeling of “further space” hence the column is large like a wall. Just by using limited materials of concrete and wood, and with scaling of ceiling and wall height, flexible space was created that can accepts changes.

The form seems extraordinary at a glance, though it is a result of multiple of aspects such as client’s request who wanted to spend time freely, climate and environment of the location, and the building cost. This house aimed to have flexible structure that can be adapted to function other than residence, and a strength that would not be affected with any situations.

To build architecture is to design a gravity.

In this house, the area that bears the load is minimized and the concrete mass of roof and walls are lifted from the ground. This structure tries to respond to the relationship to the outside environment, comfort of the interior space, and cost constrains.

The actual 9.8N of gravity cannot be changed, however it could be designed by manipulating forms, materials, and scales. Although this might sound like a common sense, the appeal can be created from building’s bizarre structure, space expansion and relationship to the outside.

Manufacturers:  ModuleX, Sanwa Conpany

Lead Architects: Masato Igarashi, IGArchitects

Structural Engineering: EQSD, Yousuke Misaki

Lighting Design: Modulex Inc., Eri Nagao

Construction: FUN SHARE Ltd., Yukimitsu Shimoji