takeshi shikauchi's checkered house brings wood back to urban japan

takeshi shikauchi’s checkered house brings wood back to urban japan
all images courtesy of koichi torimura

modern fireproofing restrictions, in addition to a constantly increasing population density, have all but extinguished the wooden home in urban japan. very few homeowners are still able to build the structures, which face steep costs in order to be compliant with laws. as result, urban japan has become a mecca of industrialized homes.

checkered façade detail 

the ‘checkered house’ is a modern interpretation of a wooden dwelling; capable of surpassing disaster prevention and maintenance rules, without breaking the bank. designed by takeshi shikauchi, the home is an amalgamation of both metal and wood. beneath a deep overhang, is a checkered wall of structural plywood, glass, and cedar panelling.

under eave space 

thanks to the deep overhang, the wood is shaded from two of the most detrimental causes of wood deterioration: UV exposure and rain. the interior of the wooden façade provides the owner with floor to ceiling shelving. here, small articles can be stored, which simultaneously gives the space a sense of privacy. beneath the large eave is a cement slab used for parking, relaxing, or other various uses. 

windows and shelving 

living, dining, and kitchen areas 

light reflections 

interior at night

small articles give the home a sense of privacy 

exterior at night

plan

section

diagram

project info:

project: checkered house
design: takeshi shikauchi architect office
structural design: ohno japan
collaborative design: yuko suzuki architecture office
location: tokyo, japan
total area: 117.9m²
completion: march 2015
construction: shinei
photographer: koichi torimura

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom