Fukuoka, Japan

The site locates in the town that used to be flourished in Modernizing era in Japan, although it seems now to be deserted. There is very busy railway east side of the site, which has about 250 train traffic daily and is constant noise and vibration of trains day and night. Also, there are series of bars at north of the site, it is not ideal location for a residential project. Besides, memories of severe damage by flooding in recent years in this area still remains in their head of the clients who have been living in this area from their childhood.

Our challenge was to create rigid structure against those negative environmental factors by accepting them rather than rejecting them and by responding positively to design comfortable living environment.

Series of experiments led us to the 3-storey building in which major living space were raised to 2nd floor and most of essential activities would be completed in the 2nd floor as if it is one-story building. To sustain large 2nd floor volume structurally, series of 2-storey-high and 3 story-high load bearing walls were introduced and 2 un-bonded PC cable were also applied along east-west axis subsidiary measures to allow cantilevered structure 5.6m in east and 3.2m south. The symbolic U shape wall also assist to cantilever southern volume.

The east side facade 1st floor wall was set-back to distance itself from the railways. Complex-profile 2nd floor structure and 3rd floor eaves assist blocking out noise, vibration and views from people on the street. Also gaps between these structures allow natural daylight and external atmosphere to come in to internal space. Large glazed opening was open up to the courtyard and extend interior space toward that semi-opened external space. The main space in 2nd floor was connected to the 3rd floor theater room via double-height space. East-west axis from 1st floor courtyard to 3rd floor terrace was sectionally connected and north-south axis from 2nd floor terrace at south and stairwell at north were integrated in plan. As a result, internal and external spaces interacted each other and various interior space were formed in plan and section.

The client’s determination to live this area even under these severe environment form this architecture which allow to live such open, extraordinary and tranquil living.

Architects: Matsuyama Architect & Associates
Lead Architect: Masakatsu Matsuyama
General Contractor: Inoue Housing Co., Inc.
Client: Private
Photographers: Toshihisa Ishii