Japanese studio Ushijima Architects has completed a small wood-clad house in Shiga Prefecture, with living spaces raised on a concrete base to help mitigate the risk of flooding.
Located near Biwa-ko, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, the U-House sits on an area of former wetland used for growing rice that was filled in after the second world war.
Recognising the impacts that the climate crisis and rising sea levels may have on the site in the near future, Yokohama-based Ushijima Architects sought to create a house that could withstand flooding.
Ushijima Architects has completed a small wood-clad house in Shiga Prefecture
"[The area] has been attacked by floods time and again after being buried, but the memory of this is forgotten because the technology of flood control has been improved and a lot of new residences have been built," explained founder Takahiro Ushijima. "However, there is a possibility that this area will be attacked with flooding again because of global warming, or it will be covered with reeds if the population of the area continues to decrease and the Biwa-ko's water level is to be lower," he continued.
"We can't anticipate the future of this site, so I designed this house being conscious of two elements: flood and reeds."
It is raised on a concrete base to help mitigate the risk of flooding
U-house sits on a concrete base, raising its metal-clad lower level off the ground and forming a small terrace around the home with ...