House in Shiraiwa: A Harmony of Architecture and Nature

2id Architects' Award-Winning Design Balances Indoor and Outdoor Living

The House in Shiraiwa is a unique residence that offers a sense of openness and security, inspired by its location on a mountain slope overlooking a valley, and surrounded by a mandarin plantation. The design concept revolves around the distance between habitation and nature, creating a space that is both a home and a sanctuary.

The interior space of the house is divided into two sections: indoor and semi-outdoor. The large indoor space is primarily a living room, designed to foster communication among family members. The semi-outdoor space, covered with a pergola, serves as a buffer zone between the living room and the surrounding landscape, allowing residents to enjoy their local environment while engaging in indoor activities.

The pergola's design was determined by sunlight simulation, creating a beautiful silhouette that changes with the days and seasons. Structurally, the pergola's diagonal parts reinforce its stability. The walls of the house, both inside and out, are finished with a local material - scraped mortar with crushed white rock, giving the house a unique aesthetic appeal.

The house, with a total floor area of 218m2, was designed to be flexible and adaptable to the residents' needs. The pergola space, equal in size to the indoor space, is left undefined to allow for various uses, depending on the residents' imagination. This design approach ensures that the house remains a dynamic and evolving space that adapts to the changing needs and preferences of its inhabitants.

The House in Shiraiwa is a project that started in February 2017 and was completed in April 2019. It represents a successful attempt to regain the locality in contemporary Japanese architecture while maintaining the context of modernism. The design was awarded Silver in the A' Architecture, Building, and Structure Design Award in 2020, a testament to its innovative design and technical excellence.

In conclusion, the House in Shiraiwa, with its unique blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, serves as a shining example of how architecture can be harmoniously integrated with nature. It is a design that not only provides a comfortable living space but also enhances the residents' connection with their local environment.