WORKS

WORKS

桜坂の家 House of Sakurazaka

Hakata, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City. It is a land blessed with urban functions and abundant nature. It is about 15 minutes by car from JR Hakata Station, the largest city in the Kyushu region. This house was built in Sakurazaka, a residential area not far from the city center.

According to an illustration in the "Chikuzen-no-kuni Shoku-fudoki" written in the Edo period (1603-1868), this area flourished as a famous mountain ascetic center at that time. According to a map in the "Chikuzen Province Shukufudoki" written in the Edo period (1603-1868), this area was a famous site for mountain asceticism at that time. The many cherry trees in the precincts of the temple should be recognized by the name of "Sakuragamine". In spring, when the cherry trees are in full bloom, they are a joy to behold. As the legend says, the temple has been famous for its cherry blossoms since ancient times and has a history as a residence of high-ranking samurai in the Fukuoka Castle area. Today, the town still retains many vestiges of this history, with magnificent trees remaining throughout the town, creating a calm atmosphere that goes hand in hand with the elegance of the sloping streets. The site of this building is located on an elevated plateau, with a south-south elevation and a north-south elevation. The south side of the building faces the road, and the north side opens to Ohori Park, providing a very good view of the surroundings.

The first thing we considered was the need to create a building that would be accepted in this location. We gave careful consideration to the building's form and expression so as not to destroy the atmosphere of the area, which has accumulated a long history and matured sufficiently. We wanted the new building to blend in with the landscape, but not become a part of it. To achieve this, the building is a rectangular two-story building that is straightforward in relation to the site, and the exterior walls are finished with straight concrete walls and afzelia wood using a cedar-plank formwork method. The concrete walls are intended to provide privacy and consideration for the residence on the east side of the building.

The living space is mainly located on the second floor, and the ground floor is completely private. The building is 40 meters long from north to south, and we focused on the beauty of straight lines both inside and outside to create a pleasant sense of openness against the open view on the north side. The approach to the garage and the entrance door is separated by a fine lattice wall.

The approach for visitors has a detour, and a hidden door in the lattice is available for private traffic flow. The entrance door opens with a view of the trees arranged in the space below the entrance, and the afzelia flooring stretches straight ahead. The light from the German-made glass inset on the east side is soft. The entranceway has a spacious dirt floor atmosphere. It creates an open yet tranquil atmosphere. The entranceway leads to the dining room and kitchen, which in turn leads to the living room with a study space in between. The open space is pleasant. However, when it comes to actual living, a small space divided by a wall is also necessary. The western passageway to the living room is flanked by a porch with a "garden-viewing rest area. The beam structure is used to create steps that can be used as a perch or tea table.

The living room has a spacious deck space as an extension of the porch. The outdoor deck provides a view of the lush green landscape while still being indoors, and also expands the range of ways in which people can spend their time. The first floor consists of the couple's private living room, sanitary room, and Japanese-style room across the courtyard. The approach to the Japanese-style room is made by walking on the steps in the courtyard and stepping outside. This Japanese-style room is mainly used as a guest room, and the courtyard is used as a place to enjoy the atmosphere of the courtyard.

The number of sides of the shoji screens was taken into consideration. The light transmitted through the glass-fiber-filled washi paper is beautiful, and the shadows of the outdoor foliage are reflected in the most picturesque way possible. The building itself is spacious, and we have provided plenty of storage space to take advantage of this in terms of both visual and traffic flow. For ventilation and lighting, windows are placed in a straight line on the upper east wall and the lower west wall, in accordance with the east-west orientation. Breezes entering from the east naturally flow to the west. Furthermore, the north-south wall is aligned from one end to the other, providing both aesthetics and functionality.

A large cherry tree stands beside the garage. The "House on Sakurazaka" stands on a hill. The house is located on a hillside, and it was thought that an "honest house" would be suitable for this land with a historical and tranquil atmosphere. While taking into consideration the balance between the appearance of the house and the ease of living, we aimed to create a building that is understated, yet shows a certain individuality. We hope that as time goes by, this building will develop even more charm.

DATA

  • Completion 2013.09
  • Building site Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka
  • Principal use private residence
  • Structure 1F RC, 2F S
  • Photo Nacasa & Partners