House in Kyonan

This project is designed as a weekend home for a couple living in the city center, as well as their permanent residence after retirement. With their later years in mind, they selected a rural site nestled in the hills of Minami-Boso, an area known for its gentle terrain and mild climate.
Upon first visiting the site, I was deeply impressed by the composition of the landscape—flowers blooming across the embankment of a south-flowing waterway, rice paddies stretching beyond the embankment, and a distant mountain range in the background—a scene that would surely reveal rich, ever-changing expressions throughout the seasons. To fully capitalize on this, the decision was made instantly to raise the floor level to the height of the rice paddies and frame the landscape through large openings. We carefully adjusted the height of the eaves on-site to determine the exact view to be framed. The contrast with the deep shadows cast by the eaves makes the front yard, the embankment, the rice paddies, and the distant mountain range appear in even more vivid colors.
Visiting neighbors were moved, remarking, “I never realized the scenery I usually take for granted was this beautiful.” As a designer, I am delighted if this architecture has reset the relationship between people and the landscape, allowing us to rediscover the value that had been buried within this place.