tai_tai studio embeds café-house hybrid in japan’s countryside

tai_tai studio embeds café-house hybrid in japan’s countryside
photo © hisashi okamoto
all images courtesy of tai_tai studio

the development process for tai_tai studio‘s project in the countryside of japan surrounded three goals: to design a cafe and combined-use house, to keep costs as low as possible, and to prevent a large impact from occurring to the neighboring environment. in order to complete these tasks, the firm worked closely alongside the clients and an old carpenter. together, they devised a self-build method with advice for the purchase of materials and sequence of construction. as a result, a majority of the components were found in the local vicinity, taking away any need to ship from a foreign country.

elevation west from woods 
photo © hisashi okamoto

the indoor atmosphere, such as the temperature, humidity, and illumination, is regulated by considering the building’s geography. within the forest, its character is defined by the eaves on the moving outer wall and a large space that has appeared after manipulating the existing ceiling condition in relation to the sun’s rays. this renovation has thus, reduced the consumption of the air conditioner and the amount of energy required for lighting equipment.

view of the rhythmic openings
photo © hisashi okamoto 

elevation from afar
photo © hisashi okamoto 

(left) deck
(right) interior
photo © hisashi okamoto 

deck
photo © hisashi okamoto

openspace
photo © hisashi okamoto 

views of the roof framework
photo © hisashi okamoto 

plan and elevation

project info:

architects: tai_tai studio (hidekazu wakabayashi, akiko wakabayashi)
location: ichihara-city, chiba, japan
area of the site: 861m²
floor space: 111.18m²
structure: wood
outer wall: cedar clapboard
roof: old tile‐roofed
interior floor: cedar
wall: plaster
ceiling: paint on old exposed framework
year: 2010

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.