‘memu meadows experimental house’ by kengo kuma, hokkaido, japanall images courtesy of kengo kuma

 

 

the farmlands in the meadows of memu, near hokkaido, enjoy beautiful natural scenery accompanied by extremes in climates. kengo kuma and associates therefore modeled their ‘experimental house’ after the traditional ainu dwellings, or earth houses, that used natural materials to insulate and recover the heat created from the indoor fireplace to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the entire winter. the constructrecalls a barn typology, but differs vastly in material use.  a double skin membrane is composed of a polyester fluorocarbon tarp on the outside anda glass-fiber cloth membrane on the interior, insulated with polyester insulation from recycled PET bottles. the idea is not to create the thickest,most solid insulation possible, but rather to use the material properties to perform in the desired way. allowing light to create a diffuse day-lit glow, the interior enjoys a perfectly lit space that exposes the larch frame structure of the home, all the while maintaining a constant temperature.at night the house is illuminated from the interior, as the radiant floor heating is only necessary to acclimatize the space once every few days. the house becomes a member of its context, changing with the seasons and responding to the different conditions inside and out.

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housein the farm landscape

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housecovered in snow

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houseinterior glows with the daylight

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housecurtains partition the spaces in the interior

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housea central fireplace radiates heat throughout the entire space

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housebedroom

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housewooden ribs exposed through the glow of the translucent skins

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housebathroom exists within a glass box in the corner

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houseat dusk

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housebright colors illuminate the snow around the home

 

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houselarch wood frame structure

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housea steel substructure anchors the membranes, integrated seamlessly into the wood

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housemembrane preparation

 

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental house

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housesite plan

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housefloor plan / level 0

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housesection

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housesection

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental housesection

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houseelevation

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houseelevation

 

 

kengo kuma: meme meadows experimental houseelevation