masatoshi hirai architects + mio sekimoto complete house with kitchen garden in japan

located in the japanese city of kumagaya, villa potager by masatoshi hirai architects atelier and mio sekimoto is built with a kitchen garden as its main feature, for a family that wants to grow its own vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. the residence incorporates four small rooms, with an unpolished, dirt floor connecting them to each other and leading to the garden, blurring the boundaries between inside and out.

all images by morinakayasuaki unless stated otherwise

built for a family that recently moved back to its hometown to raise their children in a better environment, the project occupies a large site, where the kitchen garden is located on the south and the house is located on the north side, following the shinhoshikawa river and the streetscape. the architects have worked to enhance the connection between exterior and interior, extending the eaves of the roof to create a shaded environment where residents can escape the intense summer sunlight.

image by masatoshi hirai architects atelier

six windows surrounding the structure’s perimeter bring the bright sunlight within the space, while the long dirt floor where people take their shoes off at, is located in the center of the house. ‘we think the sunlight, the wind and the smell of the earth coming in becomes part of activity of living,’ explains masatoshi hirai architects, ‘part of the local community, the environment, and the development of the family.’

image by masatoshi hirai architects atelier

image by masatoshi hirai architects atelier

image by masatoshi hirai architects atelier

project info:

name: villa potager

architect: masatoshi hirai architects atelier and mio sekimoto

location: kumagaya, saitama, japan

site area: 461.37 sqm

total floor area: 95.17 sqm (incl. parking)

building area: 100.64 sqm

structure: timber framework

floor number: 1

structural engineers: kanebako structural engineers 

textile: yoko ando design

original lightings design: masatoshi hirai architects atelier

lighting production: lignting crew

contractors: tokita komuten