Location: Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Architect: Yoshiaki Amino and Heisei Corp.
Project’s main strengths: Comfortable microclimate within; built with otherwise-unwanted wood
The home is known as Ki no Katamari no Ie (House Made of Thick Timbers) and is the fruit of a collaboration between Yoshiaki Amino, a university professor and architect specializing in wooden structures, and Heisei Corp., a construction company known for high-quality carpentry and wooden architecture design. The house sprang from the architect’s desire to build a healthy living environment for his aging parents while harnessing the eco-friendly properties of wood.
“Wood is a building material with many useful properties, such as being strong and a good thermal insulator, providing heat storage and controlling humidity. It’s perfect for creating a comfortable living environment,” Amino says. The house is built with mainly domestic Japanese cedar with low market value (due to irregularities).
A square design was used to minimize the exterior wall area and expose as little as possible to the weather. Rooftop solar panels help heat the home’s water. In addition, the kitchen is equipped with a Swiss wood-burning stove that also provides heat for a 1-ton hot-water tank used for domestic hot water and wintertime heat.
The south-facing wall has only deep clerestory windows and side lights, which create a relaxing interior space full of indirect natural light and shade.
from Houzz http://ift.tt/1nuJk3x
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