“The 3,950 mm-High House”
The site is located in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan. The surrounding area is rich in nature with a lingering cultural atmosphere, dotted with Jomon-period ruins and ancient burial mounds. The lot is elongated east–west, approximately 140 tsubo, with frontage to roads on the south and west. The client's program boiled down to three main requests:
- A purely white, cubic single-storey residence
- A generous entrance space with views to an inner courtyard
- A covered route from the parking area to the entrance
Although the client initially requested a two-storey house, repeated discussions revealed a desire for a voluminous, loft-like spatial quality. We therefore proposed a single-storey dwelling with high ceilings. Each living space was set to a ceiling height of 3,950 mm to secure southern daylighting, while the northern façade takes advantage of height differentials to incorporate high clerestory windows for cross ventilation.
An approach crowned by a striking large roof leads to the entrance, which includes space for the client's bicycle collection and a large window facing the courtyard. A wet-edge veranda (nure-en) connecting to the deck links each room and maintains a subtle relationship with the front garden.
This is a residence in which generous ceiling heights impart breadth and a sense of richness to daily life.
Principal use: Residential
Location: Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
Structure: Timber-framed single-storey house
Site area: 460.00 m²
Total floor area: 156.31 m²
Construction: Fuji Zokei Co., Ltd.
Structural design: Kataoka Structural Engineering
Furniture: Original YIA design
Kitchen: TOYO Kitchen