Terrace in the Town

Kanagawa, Japan

Photo © Naoomi Kurozumi

写真 © Naoomi Kurozumi

Photo © Naoomi Kurozumi

Single Houses

Architects: Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop

Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Year: 2019

A house as a small city.
The site is located on the mountain side of Hayama where we can enjoy the lush nature and the warmth of the calm local community. This area, where friends and family alike live, was a special place for the client. I felt deeply moved by his memory of this place as a “Terrace in the Town” where friends and family alike would gather. As a result, I designed a house where the Doma and terrace become an intermediate area with the town as a medium to facilitate urban behavior. We strove to create various behaviors such as sitting on the bench of the terrace, looking at the street, lying on the edge of the terrace, spending time at the desk by the kitchen, by yourself or with everyone. Also, the view from the street of the children running around on the terrace over the Doma area is a heartwarming scene. One might call it an urban behavior that neighbors can watch over warmly. I am reminded of Alberti's words, "The house is like a small city." I hope that the family and area will slowly overlap and that this architecture will become a mature city.