House in Henaji
This is a weekend house built in Okinawa, the southern island of Japan.
Due to the warm climate and its peculiar history, there is a unique atmosphere and time sensation that differs from any other in the Japanese mainland.
I found very important to maintain this unique and peaceful time sensation and to avoid any unnecessary operation in the design.
The plan layout and the exterior form belong to the traditional houses of Okinawa, but I decided to change the structural system from wood structure to concrete in order to reach a new feeling of abstraction.
Only the peaceful atmosphere of the site is allowed to flow inside this house.
Rooms are divided only by wooden sliding doors set between structural frames.
One big room space is realized by avoiding the ceiling of each room.
I decided to ensure continuity with the traditional Okinawa houses by using cement roofing-tiles.
One the main feature of these tiles is its texture that doesn’t change among the years, ensuring a perpetual beauty to this area.
