House in Yunagi

Western Japan, Japan

Photo © Toshiyuki Yano

Single Houses

Architects: Hayato Komatsu Architects

Location: Western Japan, Japan
Year: 2023

Compatibility of living environment and wind environment】

A house built along the Sea of Japan. The sunset from the site is beautiful, and the client wanted a house to incorporate the sea and the sunset into their lives.
The waves in this area are rough on a daily basis, and on particularly windy days, the waves are so rough that they can even break down the seawall walls. In an area where strong winds prevail, it was thought that the house should be designed so that it would have a small footprint in relation to the prevailing wind direction, and thus be able to catch the wind. The openings on the first floor are placed in the gaps created by the wall shift to block the strong winds from the ocean side while allowing light in. The second floor is similarly constructed with an uneven exterior wall, but with a large opening on the seaward side. To compensate for this, the eaves are extended deeply to block the direct strong winds and sunlight, and to create an outside environment where one can spend time watching the sunset.
By reading the richness and severity of building on the boundary with nature, we believe that we were able to protect the living environment by manipulating the external form of the architecture, while at the same time realizing a lifestyle that faces the magnificent view that we are blessed with.