Facing True South by Yuji Nakae.
09/07/2012.
By Nakae Architects. [Kanazawa] Japan.
metalocus, SERGIO CIDONCHA.
metalocus, SERGIO CIDONCHA.
This residence is located in Kanaishi, an old port town in Kanazawa City. Kanaishi is designated as one of the traditional environmental preservation areas, and its traditional townscape is well preserved to this day. Here you see traditional finishes of residences and warehouses such as sun-washed cedar siding walls and black roofing tiles, and also old shrines and temples with large roofs. Wooden structure with large roof seemed to be the most natural choice in this context, so it became the starting point of my design.
Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Interior view of Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Facing True South. Photography © Nakae Architects.
Plants © Nakae Architects.
Sections © Nakae Architects.
Elevations © Nakae Architects.
Environmental scheme © Nakae Architects.
The site is situated under difficult metrological condition, such as large amount of rain throughout the year, high temperature and humidity in summer and very low temperature with heavy amount of snow in winter. Large roof provides a good shelter against heavy rain and snow. However it blocks sunlight, so it is usually very dark inside the house, especially in wintertime in Kanazawa, so people usually uses artificial lighting even during the day.
My design intention was to provide a shelter that is cool in summer and warm in winter, and also to provide sufficient natural light inside. In other words I was searching for the most appropriate form of architecture , wind and change in temperature according to seasons.
It was necessary to provide sufficient direct sunlight into the house in order to get enough heat and light inside. By making skylights in the roof, you can get enough natural light and heat into the house. However it inevitably increases cooling load in summer, so it is difficult to maintain comfortable environment throughout the year. Consequently I decided to make high side windows instead of skylights. High side windows facing true south provide same amount of direct sunlight as skylights in winter. On the other hand by setting eaves with appropriate depth, you can block intense direct sunlight in summer.
CREDITS:
Architect: Yuji Nakae/Nakae Architects.
Team collaborators: Hirofumi Ohno / Ohno JAPAN, Hiroyuki Yamada / yamada machinery office, Kaga Corporation (General Constructor).
Date project: Construction: June 2007 - December 2007. Design Period: December 2006 - May 2007.
Surface: 201.89 m2 (Site Area), 96.34 m2 (Building Area), 289.02 m2 (Total Floor Area), 96.34 m2 (Ground Level), 96.34 m2 (2nd Level), 96.34m2 (3rd Level). Structure: Reinforced Concrete and Steel, 3 stories. Maximum Height: 8.05 m.
Site: Kanazawa, Japan.
More information
YUJI NAKAE
Yuji Nakae born in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan 1975. He graduated in Architecture from Yokohama National University in 1998. He made a Master in Architecture at the Yokohama National University in 2000. Joined Endo Design House (- 2004) in 2000. He founded Nakae ARCHITECTS in Tokyo in 2004. Kanazawa Opens Office in 2011. He was guest lecturer at Kyoto University of Art and Design 2012.
Awards:
2009 Prizewinner, Tokyo Architecture Prize Award (Tokyo Association of Architectural Firms, Japan).
2008 Highly-commended, AR awards for Emerging architecture (The Architectural Review, UK).
2008 Good Design Award (Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization, Japan).
