Ishii Hideki Architect Atelier

This is a residence with a roof and exterior walls constructed entirely of Corten steel.
The clients are a couple who are graphic designers, and the house serves as a two-generation home shared with the husband’s parents. The husband’s father is a sculptor who has created numerous works using Corten steel. In the family home before it was rebuilt, there was a mailbox and a nameplate made of Corten steel, and sculptural works were scattered throughout the interior. For the clients, Corten steel has been a familiar material since childhood.
Corten steel is highly weather-resistant and durable, possessing excellent properties as an exterior material that combines waterproofing, structural integrity, and finish all in one. Furthermore, as a primary material derived directly from iron ore, its appearance deepens with the passage of time, embodying the authentic character of a natural material. It also requires minimal maintenance and can be reused, making it an exterior material well-suited for the future, as it contributes to reducing lifecycle costs and environmental impact.
The building consists of the younger generation’s residence, the parents’ residence, the younger generation’s studio, and a garage. The concrete volume on the first floor houses the parents’ residence, garage, and the younger generation’s studio, while the Corten steel volume above it accommodates the younger generation’s residence.
The Corten steel volume is segmented to avoid creating a sense of oppression toward the surroundings, featuring a series of boxes that gradually scale down in depth. The intention is to reduce the sense of oppression in the vertical direction by emphasizing the length in the depth direction.
Furthermore, the gaps created between the segmented volumes are utilized to ensure natural light, ventilation, and visual connectivity.
Currently, Corten steel is not widely used as a residential exterior material. However, given its excellent properties as an exterior material.