A house design to make effective use of natural energy. 

© Nobutada OMOTE

Architects: SANDWICH, team Low-energy

Location: Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Area: 129.0 sqm

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Nobutada OMOTE

Structural Engineer: Hiroshi Ono

Service Engineer: ymo

Lighting Design: Plus y

Contractor: Ohara Construction

© Nobutada OMOTE

A house design to make effective use of natural energy. Centered on a living room oriented to face the sun when it passes due south, the program of this house uses a number of overlapping boxes to organize the interior space. In winter, air warmed by the sunlight extends throughout the space, while in summer, a cool breeze from the windows passes through. The house has a study room that functions as a ventilation tower, and from its windows you feel the greenery of surrounding trees. Air conditioners are not needed in this house.
© Nobutada OMOTE

The distinctive composition of the external wall is based on the concept of a sculptor Kohei Nawa?s ?Direction? series of paintings, which explores a visualization of gravity. Old timber that was originally cut from different trees growing in Japan and left out in the timber yard is reused, arranged so that width and colors alternate. The aim was to produce an impressi...