TAPO utilizes timber to build the ‘villa in sakura’ weekend house in rural japan

situated in a rural area close to the japanese city of sakura, design studio TAPO has formed a weekend house for a city-based family looking to get back to nature. located on a site surrounded by fields and mixed forests, ‘villa in sakura’ is positioned in the center of the plot and is designed with the intention to provide an ideal space for the client’s young children to play and an expansive garden for growing fruit and vegetables.

exterior view, image © masayoshi ishii

the building is designed by TAPO as a simple rectilinear volume with a mono-pitch roof. measuring 75 ft x 33 ft (23 m × 10 m) in size, an entrance space punctures the middle of the house, forming a physical and visible connection through the site. this central intervention acts to separate functions regarding the level of privacy required. for example, the north side is home to quieter spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms and walk-in closets. whereas to the south, a more social, open-plan living-dining and kitchen area can be found. additionally, there are two attic spaces for the children to go up and down with ladders in both the north and south.

rendered view of the house, image courtesy of TAPO

the building is characterized by the use of a timber structure and external timber cladding. on the exterior elevations, blackened wood is combined with black-colored standing seam metal sheeting, creating a continuous appearance while also providing a more durable roof surface with the use of the metal sheeting. inside, the interior space is defined by the exposed timber beams, columns and trusses, forming a very honest architecture style. the warm quality of the wood is highlighted by the minimal white walls, and overall, the use of this natural material throughout the villa creates a perfect connection to the nature which surrounds it.

the central entrance space, image © masayoshi ishii

the boundary between indoor and outdoor is blurred, image © masayoshi ishii

the living-dining area, image © masayoshi ishii

the exposed columns and beams characterize the space, image © masayoshi ishii

the slope of the mono-pitch roof is communicated in the interior, image © masayoshi ishii

the white walls highlight the warm timber, image © masayoshi ishii

view of the bedroom, image © masayoshi ishii

the house viewed at night, image © masayoshi ishii

at night the dark timber is punctuated by the warm glow from inside, image © masayoshi ishii

project info:

project name: ‘villa in sakura’

location: sakura city, chiba prefecture, japan

architect: TAPO (tomioka architectural planning office)

photography: masayoshi ishii

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