MDS: yatsugatake villa

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.

(left) carport(right) entry patioimage © toshiyuki yano

rice paper wallimage © toshiyuki yano

bedroomimage © toshiyuki yano

image © toshiyuki yano

open walls to the outsideimage © toshiyuki yano

entry areaimage © toshiyuki yano

image © toshiyuki yano

tatami roomimage © toshiyuki yano

image © toshiyuki yano 

work deskimage © toshiyuki yano

central spaceimage © toshiyuki yano 

dining areaimage © toshiyuki yano

kitchenimage © toshiyuki yano 

delicate wood texturesimage © toshiyuki yano

bedroomimage © toshiyuki yano

closed rice paper wallsimage © toshiyuki yano

bathroomimage © toshiyuki yano

image © toshiyuki yano 

floor plan / level 0 

floor plan / level 1

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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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