kiyoaki takeda adds six annexes to historic house renovation in nagano, japan

in ‘house with 6 annexes’, kiyoaki takeda architects has renovated a historic residence in nagano, japan, by building six additional structures to connect ancient, present and future life. located in a town surrounded by rich nature, the project’s site included an underground cellar, a shelter and a well, preserved from ancient times but not in use. in order to maintain and highlight these unique characteristics, the japanese architect has designed additional structures on top of these underground spaces, made of glass.all images © masaki hamada (kkpo)

kiyoaki takeda architects‘ ‘house with 6 annexes’ comprises an assemblage of small buildings, connected by crossings that alternate between inside and outside, offering a new daily routine connected to the surrounding nature. an underground cellar, a shelter, and a well, which were preserved from ancient time but not in use are located on the site. these spaces contain a site-specific atmosphere, similar to a cave, filled with earth that maintains a constant room temperature throughout the year. keeping this unique character, kiyoaki takeda designed new, lightweight structures on top these underground spaces that function as a new layer, connecting past, present, and future.

the additional constructions are transparent, like a glass pavilion, and function as environmental layers to keep underground conditions sanitary by allowing natural lighting and ventilation to enter. also, the lightweight structures comprise units of 50×50 mm steel, considered for easy assembling by man power to cater to the site’s uneven landscape. ‘house with 6 annexes is a “future living environment,” standing on its preserved ancient life and allowing itself to now begin a new “wild life” closer to nature,’ notes kiyoaki takeda. 

project info:

name: house with 6 annexes

architect: kiyoaki takeda architects

location: nagano, japan

original text translation: mami sayo