House in Morimachi 住宅 by Toshiaki Tanaka

House in Morimachi 住宅 by Toshiaki Tanaka is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 银奖 in 建筑与结构设计 Competition Category.

银建筑· 2020

House in Morimachi 住宅

by Toshiaki Tanaka

Client: Toshiaki Tanaka & Associates

A' Design Award 银奖 Winner in 建筑 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #94753

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About House in Morimachi 住宅

森町住宅是一座以极简形态设计的单层住宅。建筑外墙覆以金属板材，并刻意压低体量，以尊重周边的自然景致。主体结构采用钢框架，尺寸依照日本传统木造住宅的模块加以标准化，从而保留亲切熟悉的尺度感。木制推拉门为室内增添了纵深感、连续性与开放性。庭园将水景与舒缓起伏的地形相结合，使南立面沿线的每一个房间都能观赏到各不相同的景致。整体施工均运用了传统木作与抹灰工艺。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 银奖

House in Morimachi 住宅是 A' Design Award 银奖得主，这是授予顶级、华美而令人印象深刻的设计的极为崇高的认可。银奖得主是极其卓越、极具创造力的作品，展现出其设计师杰出的专业技能、才华与敏锐。预计House in Morimachi 住宅将成为一件出色的典范之作，兼具非凡的专业性与深刻的创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 银奖的设计是一项备受瞩目、令人钦佩的发明，造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。House in Morimachi 住宅是一件令人羡慕的创作，它唤起渴望，带来积极的情感，并激发惊叹与赞叹。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A single storied house cladded in metal sheets in a minimal form, kept low to respect the scenery around the site. With steel framing as a main structure, the module of traditional Japanese wooden house is employed in standardisation of dimensions composing the house. The wood sliding doors enhance the depth and the continuity of the interior space. The garden is designed with water scenery and gently undulating ground surfaces to provide unique views for each room facing to south.
Dimensions & Packaging: In order to achieve the wooden space in fine quality, we worked closely with a construction company which specialises in the traditional Japanese architecture throughout the project. We devoted our time in the selection of fine tree species, starting with processing the raw teak wood which had been stored for 30 years in their factory. They were dried naturally outside in fresh air for half a year, 10 months were spent on the selection, finishing and construction on site. The same material is used for the furniture, fixtures and the interior finishing as well.
The interior walls are finished with the traditional plaster technique. An original aluminium transition is used at the external corners where the plaster joints with wood to prevent getting cracks from drying and shrinking, which led the walls to be finished fine and delicately.
Production Technology: In this project we worked with the carpenters and plasterers with the traditional techniques. To create a space with ‘comfortable sense of tension’, we requested them to conduct from procurement to processing, construction and finish with high-precision of wood materials.
Design Challenge: The relationship of internal and external space takes a significant role in architecture. In order to fully open the facade in a span of 20m, steel structure based on the grid module of Japanese timber framing system is employed as a primary structure. The columns are sized to the same as timber framing system to create a similar impression to that of a wooden house, as well as taking advantage of steel structure which allows the wide spanning space. The 'engawa'(terrace) continues to the exterior, with the low eaves and the timber ceiling gently inviting the natural light into the space.
The traditional Japanese technique of forming the continuity of internal and external space is referenced in a respectful manner.
Inspiration: The house equally values the building and its exterior space. It aims to reflect abundant changes of nature by the seasons through intimate continuity with exterior, by reinterpreting Japanese traditional spacial elements and decorations.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2013 in Oita City in Japan and completed in September 2015.
Operation Flow: The request from our client was to bring out an architectural image from the two existing weekend houses they own, and to draw a coherent cencept in a new proposal. One of them is a refurbished Japanese hotel located in the mountains with a view open to a stream in front. The other one is a renovated old Japanese wooden house with a traditional plan with tatami mats. Both space have the intrinsic character of Japanese wooden architecture, achieved with the skillful carpenters. Our client has a deep understanding in art and music, and an aspiration to enhance and enjoy the daily life in such space.
Image Credits: Image 1: Photographer / Kouji Okamoto
Image 2: Photographer / Kouji Okamoto
Image 3: Photographer / Kouji Okamoto
Image 4: Photographer / Kouji Okamoto
Image 5: Photographer / Kouji Okamoto