Clients desired a house suitable for an elderly couple where gardening could be enjoyed. They also wanted a large space to be able to run a variety store and host a gallery or workshop in future.

© Toshiyuki Yano

Architects: Fujiwaramuro Architects

Location: Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Architects In Charge: Shintaro Fujiwara, Yoshio Muro

Area: 82.81 m2

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Toshiyuki Yano

© Toshiyuki Yano

From the architect. Clients desired a house suitable for an elderly couple where gardening could be enjoyed. They also wanted a large space to be able to run a variety store and host a gallery or workshop in future.
© Toshiyuki Yano

Therefore, we proposed a house with a planted walkway outside of the house. Outside of the house, we created wide rounded-shape earthen floor (doma) connected to the house. By planting flower and trees in and around the earthen floor (doma), the walkway appears. 

© Toshiyuki Yano

Making the most of existing Japanese dogwood trees, the house is located diagonally to the site with consideration given to a view of mountains on the road side, daylight from the south and misalignment of eye lines from adjacent lands.

Floor Plan

After the completion, the house becomes...