secret garden by ryuichi ashizawa architects
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects
all photos © kaori ichikawa

sg (secret garden) by ryuichi ashizawa architects is located in a residential area in
isezaki-city in gunma prefecture in japan. designed for a family of 4, the project consists
of box like structures connected by a rooftop garden. almost all of the roof's plants
function as insulation.

each building has been created according to each user's requirements in terms of color,
size and space. they were they placed in a circular form based on distance and relationship.

the house is for a family which has small children. they are growing and also the parents
will get older, which means that the lifestyle of family is always changing. ryuichi ashizawa
architects tried to propose a flexible and sustainable house for all the stages of the family in
the future. there are four fixed concrete boxes which will not change for a long time in the house
(car’s room inside/car’s room outside/ water’s space/ parent’s space) each are positioned at
the corner of the site. other functions (entrance/ space for connection/ living/ dining /
daughter’s room/ son’s room / japanese room / working room) were placed between each
concrete box.

the house is mainly built of timber (japanese cedar) from the local industry and concrete.
in addition they also gathered japanese cedars from the surrounding landscape, as well as soil
and gravel which they used on the roof of the site.


view from above
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


rooftop garden
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


model of secret garden
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


section view
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects


elevation view
image courtesy ryuichi ashizawa architects