katsuhiro miyamoto
all images courtesy katsuhiro miyamoto & associates


japanese architect katsuhiro miyamoto has sent in images of his latest project 'n'dam'
a proposal for a residence in japan.

the project involves constructing a small housing complex between the main house that
stands on the ‘cliff’ and the front road.

the ‘leaning-type retaining wall’ was incorporated for balance, along the perpendicular
direction of the cliff. the earth has been scraped downward while holding the cut surface
with temporary anchors, where the concrete is then cast from the bottom upward. in order
to secure a wide opening and sufficient parking on street level, both left and right retaining
walls stand vertically. for this, the ‘inverse l-type retaining wall’ was adopted along

the overall result is similar to that of an arch dam filled with earth instead of water.
the arch itself is subtly distorted, reflecting the asymmetric topography.