Cottage in Tsumari, Japan by Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

Article source: Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

A low-cost public cottage for locals and visitors, located within a beech woods park. This is the region with heaviest snowfall in Japan, often as deep as 4m.  It was an architecture in that two volumes were combined. One is the outward form Big Box. It was determined as the maximum volume possible from the budget with local details for withstanding heavy snow without maintenance in the winter, when the cottage becomes isolated. The big volume also enables comfortable stay in the summer.

Cottage Detail for Heavy Snow

• Architects: Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects
• Project: Cottage in Tsumari
• Location:Tokamachi, Nigata, Japan
• Structure engineer: Shoichi Nagumo (Takumi Design Office)
• Mechanical engineer: Masaya Uchida (Takuetsu Corporation)
• Cooperation: Hiroyuki Kato
• Furniture designer: Daigo Ishii + Future-scape Architects

Cottage Example Local Houses01

• Client: Tokachi Region Secretariat
• Use: public cottage
• Site area: 240.20 m2, building area : 52.33 m2
• Total floor area: 67.48 m2
• Completion date: March, 2000
• Structure: wood
• Exterior finish: cedar board painted by oil stain

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Interior finish

• Floor : cork flooring, cedar board painted by oil stain and clear lacquer
• Wall : Japanese linden plywood painted by Chinese ink, cedar board painted by oil stain and clear lacquer
• Ceiling : Japanese linden plywood painted by Chinese ink, cedar board painted by oil stain and clear lacquer

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Other is named Tube. There the essential functions for stay were placed in a row. Tube is bent complicatedly by the restriction of Big Box, and Big Box is cut irregularly by the bent Tube. The gap between both generates an unexpected space. The contrast of the color or activity between both offers different positions for seeing the woods.

Cottage Exapmle Snow01

The exterior gives similar impression to the local houses, which the people are used to seeing. So, they aren’t conscious of it: a consideration to the fact that the site is within a park. At the same time, it is not the same but delicately different in the degree that they cannot regognize its difference when they observe in detail. It is an attitude for designing the new architecture in the region with mature context.

Cottage Exapmle Snow02

Stepping to the interior, the impression changes. A new contrast arises between the familiar exterior and the unexpected interior, adding to the contrast between Big Box and Tube.

Cottage Exapmle Snow03

Image Courtesy Koji FUjii

Image Courtesy Koji FUjii

Image Courtesy Koji FUjii

Exterior East View (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Exterior East View (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Winter View (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Night View (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Eating (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Sleeping (Image Courtesy Future scape)

Tags: Japan, Nigata

Category: Cottage

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