kawazoe architects binds three buildings into a home with a curved path in japan

river sea by kawazoe architects extends up to river’s mouth on awaji island

vernacular meets modern in the ‘river sea’ home as three separate buildings are fused through a mystical brick path. on awaji island in japan, extending right to the mouth of the river, the one-story private residence by kawazoe junichiro architects is designed as to blend into the surroundings by suppressing the impact of the built. the three separate functional parts are divided into the entrance building, the guest area and the main house. as these are kept apart by the courtyard, the curved path runs through to connect the spaces. 

the plan divides the building into three main uses: the entrance building, the guest building and the main building

all images courtesy of kawazoe junichiro architects

photographs by yoshiharu matsumura

the awaji-tiled path connects the three buildings

while from the appearance of the road the river sea home is visible on the curved path wall and entrance, japan-based kawazoe junichiro architects ensure that the meditative-like design remains secluded within the landscape. from the entrance to the main building, the residents pass through two courtyard and the guest areas as the boundary between indoors and out gradually gets more ambiguous. the perspectives continually change as the protagonistic path alters the openings and views.

‘on the flow line of the path, the boundary between the inside and the outside becomes ambiguous, creating a space where the two are united. by moving, different scenes will continue and you will feel a change in the space,’ says juni-chiro kawazoe, founder and lead architect of kawazoe architects.

the three buildings keep their distance from each other across the courtyard

the courtyards separate the guest rooms, entrance & main building

as the path continues, the living room of the guest building peeks through. in art and craft impressions, the wooden indoors inspire tranquility. the walls made out of round roof tiles from awaji island complement the oak top plate and aji stone legs of the table as the kitchen and dining area are integrated. 

‘the wall is covered with border tiles made from awaji roof tiles. there are subtle changes in color and shape caused by uneven baking of roof tiles, and the power of the flame is expressed on the wall,’ continues kawazoe.

guest building living room area

one of the two living rooms of the guest building

local awaji roof tiles used for the border tiles on the wall

looking at the corridor from the dining room in the main building to the private room

living room in the main building

the living / dining room in the main building with an oak wood louver panel separating the space

dining room in the main building

the kitchen is designed to look like a lump using artificial marble for the top plate, sides and doors

night view of the courtyard and the 5 guest rooms lined up side by side

details of the exterior on the north side: the difference in thickness created by pasting the curved surface of the border tiles makes the wall stand out through indirect lighting at night

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project info:

project title: river sea

architecture: kawazoe junichiro architects /@kawazoe.junichiro.architects

project team: takuya uemura, kazue kawazoe

structural design: root structural design

lighting design: style ma’tec

total area: 427.07sqm

photographer: yoshiharu matsumura

location: sumoto city, hyogo prefecture, japan

year: 2021