The house on Awaji island

“Light changes infinitely like words. In the infinite richness, light is a symbol of nature.”
The site is located in the northwest of Awaji Island. In front lies the Seto Inland Sea and behind are the Shionaru mountains. It’s just on top of a hill known for its great natural beauty. However, it faces a sheer cliff and the distance from the front road to the view of the inland sea is very short.

In thinking about how to design the access to the ocean within a short distance, I conceived the space as the symbol of natural light wrapped several times over. The folds in the light let guests awaken the feeling like they are going deeper and deeper.
The first fold of light you encounter is the front porch where light is controlled by slits. It’s a prelude space for entering the hearth of the house.

I thought how should I show dramatically the wonderful scenery of the sunset facing the west side of Awaji Island. And I also consider how to produce the atmosphere of the warm home when the family comes back in the evening.
Then an idea flashed upon me about the front space as a MA-AI, before encountering the ocean view, and the effect would be like the light of a paper-covered lamp.

Every client requires the function at first. It's a natural thing and this is just the seed of design. I analyze the client's living rhythm politely, omit something unnecessary and minimally realize the function that the client really needs.
I believe that a good result will appear from my design process.
The good client for us is the one that gives us a unique task, and my skill is to get it.
For example in the case of The house on awaji island, the client is a family that has been living downtown and had this dream for many years, of living in a house where they could see the ocean.
So we suggested this lifestyle where, on weekdays the father works downtown while his family lives in Awaji Island surrounded by a rich environment, and on weekends he comes home. This way way he can concentrate on his work and have the chance to take it easy by the ocean. And a proper distance can be kept between them. The architect gets the chance to suggest the lifestyle and the shape of love all at the same time.