fujiwaramuro architects encircles house inside a greenery ring in japan

fujiwaramuro architects’ latest project is a residence for a family of four located in higashi-hiroshima city, japan built inside a paved ring. located in a housing development dotted with lots, the design process began with the question of whether it might be possible to maintain a certain degree of privacy on this particular site, yet at the same time create a sense of connection with its surroundings.

the architects were tasked with dissolving the property line by deliberately entwining greenery throughout the lot. first, rather than constructing a wall around the lot, they created a boundary similar to a tree-lined street between the house and the rest of the property. by doing so, they attempted to open up to the neighborhood, resulting in a ring-shaped hill with a path around the top.

this maintained privacy while loosely connecting the property with its surroundings. the house is situated within this ring at the top. in two places, the ring pierces the residence, connecting it to the exterior. the guests and users enter the residence through the path that encircles it.

the building is divided into four volumes: the living room, the children’s room, the kitchen, the bathroom and master bedroom, all connected to the dining room at the center. this way, by separating the various parts of the home allows each section to be connected to the exterior, with an outdoor space attached to each area.

the idea is to eventually plant gardens in each of these outdoor spaces to create a variety of views from inside the house. the area between the ring and the property line will also be landscaped, further changing the scenery both inside and outside, creating a space that is open to the surrounding environment.

project info:

project name: house in higashi-hiroshima

architects: fujiwaramuro architects

location: higashi-hiroshima city, japan