Contemporary Design in Detail: Sustainable Environments

26 Sustainable Environments

Sambuichi Architects,

Sloping North House, Yamaguchi, Japan

 e house reconsiders the value of leftover

or undesirable land, drawing from it a rich

living experience integrated with the site.

Building the home on an extra tract of land

on a north-facing slope in a new housing

estate saved the owner a considerable sum;

however, the contextual and natural aspects

of the site were valuable, as the surrounding

area is naturally wooded, with views of the

Seto Inland Sea to the east and the Chugoku

mountains to the north.

Site Specificity

27

Above  e roof slope of 11:18 was deter-

mined by the incline of the natural terrain

and the architectural requirements of main-

taining adequate light, ventilation, and heat.

 e structure of the house is concrete, partly

underground with a raised roof plane that al-

lows light in along the four sides and through

a roof window.  e building solves the per-

ceived negative siting condition by working

with the landscape and environment rather

than against it. Forgoing high-tech products

and relying on natural conditioning methods

kept the project economical as well.

28 Sustainable Environments

north south

Above  e house was built for a family of

four, with private spaces on the lower levels

progressing to the common spaces on the

upper level.  is organization refl ects the

character of the site, with the more open and

distant views at the top of the slope. Living

areas are located toward the edge of the slope

with utilities in back.

Opposite An opening in the center of the

north incline defi nes the small dining area

and alleviates the severity of the steep pitch.

 e roof seems to fl oat above the fl oor due

to the continuous band of glass around the

four sides of the home and the near identical

fi nish of the fl oor and ceiling planes. From

within the house, the lack of fl oor-to-ceiling

glazing never interferes with the sense of the

environment outside.  e open interior is

divided only in a few places, with full-height

glass partitions, to maintain the fl ow of

space, light, and air.

Site Specificity

29

Above Two interior levels in the house

allow for views into the woods and above

the tree canopy. Although the house is ex-

cavated into the hillside, the roof window

allows for a feeling of being in the treetops,

as it frames the view to the mountains.  e

wood fi nish of the ceiling wraps around the

sides of the opening to create a continuous

surface.

30 Sustainable Environments