House in Kawagoe

This project is a newly built residence with a hair salon on the ground floor, located in a rural area surrounded by expansive rice fields and a rich natural landscape. The site sits adjacent to the client’s family farmhouse—set among barns, storage sheds, and paddies—and was created by partially converting one of those paddies into residential land. The design of the house responds to the main house and the surrounding agricultural scenery, aiming to integrate gently into its context. Initially, the plan was to place the building toward the northern edge of the site to allow for a large south-facing garden, maximizing sunlight while taking into account that the adjacent southern lots are being developed as residential land. However, through a series of site studies conducted with the client, who is a landscape architect, the final layout was shifted to harmonize with the spatial sequence formed by the main house, the rice fields to the north, the planned garden, and the new residence. A large gabled roof opens toward the rice fields, with generous windows oriented to bring the view deep into both the living space and the salon, while still ensuring ample daylight. Inside, the salon is positioned along the street-facing side, unified under the same roof as the home. To separate the two functions in daily life, the design incorporates elements such as a double-height space and adjacent wet areas to buffer sound, allowing the salon to operate independently from the living quarters. The interior finishes are also carefully considered, with contrasting yet complementary tones and textures that create a sense of distinction between work and private life while maintaining overall coherence. The building is surrounded by new planting that blends with the existing rural landscape, allowing each space within the home to remain connected to nature. This integration not only offers a changing seasonal experience but also a sense of lasting familiarity—one that gently supports the comfort and well-being of those who live there.