MDS: yatsugatake villaphoto © toshiyuki yanoall images courtesy of MDS

 

 

 

japan’s long north-south axis gives it a richness in geographical features and climates. the ‘yatsugatake villa’ by local practice MDS is situated more or less right in the middle, where it’s too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, without residing in either extreme. the elderly couple that call it home have left the hectic city life to retire in the mountains and farm the various vegetables all year round. the wooden structure needs to adapt to each season without the use of air conditioning or artificial heaters, with the ability to completely open itself to the elements in the warm months and close off – while still allowing the presence of sunlight – in the winter. three adjacent shells of different heights developed as a result, with deep overhangs that control direct solar gain when not desired. the fan-like arrangement of the volumes exposes a greater surface area to the south to absorb the low winter light. full-length retractable tinted glass walls are visually insulated with another layer of rice paper panels that diffuse the intense sun. with the majority of the windows on the southern and northern elevation, opening both ends invites a cool breeze through the entire structure.

MDS: yatsugatake villa(left) carport(right) entry patioimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villarice paper wallimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villabedroomimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaopen walls to the outsideimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaentry areaimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villatatami roomimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaimage © toshiyuki yano 

MDS: yatsugatake villawork deskimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villacentral spaceimage © toshiyuki yano 

MDS: yatsugatake villadining areaimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villakitchenimage © toshiyuki yano 

MDS: yatsugatake villadelicate wood texturesimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villabedroomimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaclosed rice paper wallsimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villabathroomimage © toshiyuki yano

MDS: yatsugatake villaimage © toshiyuki yano 

MDS: yatsugatake villa

MDS: yatsugatake villafloor plan / level 0 

MDS: yatsugatake villafloor plan / level 1

MDS: yatsugatake villasection

MDS: yatsugatake villasection

 

 

project info:

 

architecture : kiyotoshi mori & natsuko kawamura / mds photography : toshiyuki yanolocation : hokuto-city,yamanashidate of completion : 2012principal use : residence structure : wood site area : 691.00m2total floor area : 110.01 m2 (71.65 m2/1f, 38.36 m2/2f)exterior finish : plastererroof : galvanized color steel sheet standing-seam roofingfloor : oak flooringwall : plastererceiling : acrylic emulsion paint + plaster board

 

 

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