Kanagawa, Japan
This residence was designed for a seven-member family spanning three generations and is situated on a site overlooking a magnificent panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
Earth Villa by Shinichi Ogawa & Associates, won a Future House Award 2026 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and Global Design News.
The building is embedded below the level of the existing road. Above ground, only a transparent glass boundary wall and a white movable gate marking the property line are visible. The remainder of the structure is concealed beneath a grassy landscape, existing within the earth without revealing its architectural form.
The area is subject to strict landscape regulations governing elements such as mandatory pitched roofs and exterior color schemes. In response, the design ensures that the entire building volume, including its roof form, remains hidden below ground level.
Extending from the spacious open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, a terrace leads to a 3-meter-wide, 30-meter-long infinity pool featuring a dramatic waterfall that cascades from a height of three meters.
Access from the road is provided through the gate and along a gently curving approach driveway that descends into an underground garage. Upon arrival, a massive wall measuring 2.7 meters high and 3.6 meters wide opens automatically like a door, welcoming visitors into the residence.
As a home for three generations, the private quarters are organized into three distinct zones surrounding the central living, dining, and kitchen space: one for the senior couple, one for the younger couple, and one for the three grandchildren.
The living, dining, kitchen, two-bedroom suites, and bathroom each connect to the infinity pool through their own expansive private terraces. Beyond the pool, uninterrupted views unfold toward the Pacific Ocean, surrounding mountains, and distant islands.
When viewed from the road, only the lawn covering the roof is visible. This green surface merges seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, blending into the natural scenery and extending visually toward the distant Pacific Ocean and its islands.
At night, small point lights embedded within the grassy roof emit a gentle glow, reminiscent of the runway lights of an airport, quietly illuminating the landscape.
Project: Earth Villa
Architects: Shinichi Ogawa & Associates
Lead Architect: Shinichi Ogawa
General Contractor: Daido Kogyo Co.
Client: Private
Photographers: Koji Fujii, Toreal
