Turn, Turn, Turn: A Hybrid Residential House

Integrating Sustainability and Comfort

The Turn, Turn, Turn house, designed by Hisanori Ban, is a unique residential project that combines a hybrid structure of reinforced concrete and wood. This innovative design not only enhances the performance and durability of the house but also integrates structural and environmental elements for a long and comfortable life.

The wooden rooms of the house are surrounded by a spiral slope and an external wall made of reinforced concrete. This combination not only provides privacy but also creates a comfortable temperature by forming an air layer. The lightweight walls that partition off each room contribute to maintaining privacy while ensuring a pleasant indoor environment.

The hybrid structural system of the Turn, Turn, Turn house offers various advantages in terms of sustainability. The reinforced concrete slope not only lightens the physical burden but also enhances the structural durability. This system also allows for easy renovation and extension works, as the durability of the reinforced concrete structure withstands horizontal forces such as earthquakes, enabling the wooden structure to work flexibly. Additionally, the encircled spiral slope provides the flexibility to set up different heights within the house.

The Turn, Turn, Turn house boasts a gross area of 212.56 square meters and stands at a height of 9.950 meters. With three stories, the house features materials such as concrete and urethane coating for the exterior walls, FRP waterproof coating for the roof, plaster and AEP for the interior walls, and solid wooden floors for the flooring.

Despite being a three-story house, the Turn, Turn, Turn house allows inhabitants to walk on a gentle slope, almost like a flat house. This slope creates a horizontal interrelation between the upper and lower floors while also improving the overall environment. By opening the upper parts of the exterior windows, the slope generates buoyancy-driven ventilation into the tornado, resulting in lower heating expenses compared to houses of similar volume.

The Turn, Turn, Turn house was completed in 2014 in Aichi prefecture, Japan. The project started in 2013 and was a response to the need for more sustainable and adaptable housing in Japan. The hybrid structural system used in this design is a novel approach that combines stability and flexibility, offering various possibilities for future inhabitants.

Hisanori Ban, the principal architect and design director of bandesign, led the design team for the Turn, Turn, Turn house. Other team members included Yasutaka Shinkai, also from bandesign, as the designer, Takao Michikura from IIJIMA Structural Design Office as the structural designer, and Aisan Kensetsu, led by Takayoshi Arao, as the construction company.

The Turn, Turn, Turn house has received recognition for its outstanding design. It was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2015. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate exceptional expertise, innovation, and artistic skill, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and inspiring positive emotions and wonder.

With its hybrid structure, innovative design, and focus on sustainability and comfort, the Turn, Turn, Turn house is a testament to the possibilities of modern residential architecture.