ICU architects office: yo

'yo' by ICU architects office in kanazawa city, japan
all images courtesy ICU architects office
image © kazuo fukunaga


tokyo-based practice ICU architects office (naoyuki nagata) has shared with us images of 'yo',
a small private dwelling on a wooded site 30 minutes outside of kanazawa city, japan.
heavily influenced by the lush quality of the immediate landscape, the design aims to create
a space that captures the chromatic elements of the changing seasons.



elevation
image © kazuo fukunaga


with a built footprint of 86 m2, the project seeks to convey an expansive sense of space by
projecting outwards and connecting each room with a different scenery. eight volumes divided
into a 9m by 9m formation is manipulated and rearranged to achieve an ideal placement according
to the function of the program. the resulting composition pays careful consideration to how the flow
of the domestic circulation will move, dissolving physical partitions between individual spaces.



(left) view of the exterior from inside
(right) staircase
images © kazuo fukunaga


standing as a blank slate, the majority of the house's surface is finished in concrete with glass
and stainless steel panels. the panels are perforated by a digitalized photo-image, amplifying
the effects of light and colours from the landscape.



glazing
image © kazuo fukunaga



images © kazuo fukunaga



image © kazuo fukunaga



images © kazuo fukunaga






within context
image © kazuo fukunaga



schematic models



site map



floor plan
(1) room A
(2) room B
(3) kitchen
(4) dining
(5) living
(6) terrace
(7) inner court
(8) water section

section


project info:

principal-in-charge: naoyuki nagata
project team: eri murata, hiroco kakei
consultants: TAPS - masaichi taguchi (structural)
general contractor: nagasaka gumi
structural system: concrete

site area: 762.82 m2
built area: 86.05 m2
total floor area: 76.35 m2