TK

Chiba, Japan
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Photo © Forward stroke Inc.
Architects
Yo Yamagata Architects
Location
Chiba, Japan
Year
2008

Vast triangular void

In front of the south exit of JR Tsudanuma Station, there is a vast 35-hectare triangular void, where a land readjustment project is underway for completion in 2015. The current site borders one side of the void on the opposite side of the station, and so far has a view of a vast field that can be seen all the way to the front of the station. As luck would have it, the area adjacent to the site will become a neighborhood park, the front road will be widened, and street trees will be planted along the sidewalk. In any case, the environment will change dramatically in the near future.

Light and Sound Reflectors

The front road was relatively busy and its noise was a concern. Therefore, it was not possible to take an unconditionally open configuration just because there is a good view to the east. There was a contradiction in that we wanted to open the building to enjoy the view, but close it to block out the noise. Therefore, we moved the living room as far as possible to the west side of the site, opposite the road, and erected a wall on the road boundary, using the courtyard as a buffer zone to attenuate traffic noise. The wall on the road boundary has two functions: to reflect traffic noise, and to provide a buffer zone for traffic noise. The second function is to reflect light from the south and to direct soft light into the interior. In other words, it acts as a reflector of the light we want to let in and the sound we want to eliminate.

Three triangular openings

The volume is built up on a triangular site, and the north side is lowered due to the north diagonal line, resulting in a single-flow roof shape.

The largest triangle is an opening to enjoy the view to the east. The overall length of the building, defined by the diagonal ridges of the east and south walls and the tips of the roof eaves, echoes the urban scale of the adjacent small house.

The second, medium-sized triangle is an opening created by cutting off the lower portion of the north corner at an angle, and functions as an entryway for people and vehicles to the building. The height is kept as low as possible so that the space around the entrance does not open too much to the street.

The third small triangle is a top light created by cutting off the upper southwest corner at an angle. This corner, located in the gap between the adjacent buildings, receives sunlight throughout the day, so the opening is used to bring light into the building. The edge detailing, like that of James Turrell's work, provides a picturesque view of the sky with no sense of distance.

The three triangular openings, large, medium, and small, symbolize the three essential functions of architectural openings: view, ingress/egress, and light. With these three triangular openings, I wondered if I could give a different quality to a space that is bound by the everyday demands of a house.

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