airhouse covers japanese concrete house with habitable green roof

House in Sekigahara BY AIRHOUSE

Airhouse has built this reinforced concrete house for a couple on a long site in Sekigahara town, Japan. The project features a minimum living space in the center of the site, surrounded by terraces to the north and south and topped by a large, habitable roof covered in grass. The south side of the residence features the main entrance and a terrace, which is in direct contact with the living room. Meanwhile, on the north side of the living space, the Japanese studio has created a passage and terrace that provide access to the buddhist altar room and guest rooms. The central living space is built as a semi-underground, open plan room that allows plenty of natural light to enter while blocking the line of sight from the outside to create a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere.

all images by Toshiyuki Yano

A SMOOTH CONNECTION BETWEEN INDOORS AND OUTDOORS

Airhouse has designed the reinforced concrete home as a single-story building that allows a smooth connection between indoors and outdoors. The large openings incorporate the rich nature of the surroundings within the living areas, while the green roof creates an additional living space with expanded possibilities. When residents go up to the roof, the grass floor spreads out, allowing them to fully enjoy the view of the surroundings. In addition, this type of roof provides a high heat insulation for the interior spaces below.

‘In the future, we expect that the number of plants will increase together with the sense of unity with the greenery of the neighboring land, and the house will become a place where you can feel the rich nature,’ says the Japanese architecture studio.

the concrete building is topped by a large, habitable roof covered in grass

the living space is surrounded by terraces to the north and south

cut out opening offers access to the green roof

a sheltered resting hut in the center of the roof

the building at nighttime

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project info:

name: house in Sekigahara

architect: Airhouse

location: Sekigahara town, Gifu prefecture, Japan

structure: Ohno Japan
contractor: Tokai Kensetsu