House in Nakauchi

We envision the residents actively shaping their environment, much like tending to a garden. Rather than a finished vessel, the architecture serves as a catalyst for a lifestyle that is continuously crafted and enriched by those who inhabit it.Transparent BarnLocated on the fringe of suburban Maebashi, where residential plots and agricultural fields interweave, the site is part of a pastoral landscape characterized by small barns and gardens that mediate the distance between neighbors. Following this local vernacular of a “house with a field and barn,” the design explores new possibilities for a lifestyle centered on the client’s passion for cultivating succulents.The residence is a compact, two-story volume with a loft, positioned on the northern end of the parallelogram-shaped site to secure a sun-drenched southern void. While traditional barns in the area are typically closed, independent sheds, we conceived this annex as a large-volume “transparent barn” that pairs with the main house. Linked by large sliding doors, it serves as a flexible extension that accommodates functions beyond the scope of the primary living quarters.To facilitate future modifications, the annex is constructed from small-section timber and translucent corrugated polycarbonate, with a structure independent of the main house. It functions as a versatile interface—serving as a greenhouse, atelier, and expanded entryway—that blurs the surrounding views to ensure privacy while maintaining a luminous connection to the outdoors. Even when closed, the translucent skin invites the softened landscape into the interior.Throughout the space, exposed floor beams allow for the free suspension of plants and lighting, with the diagonal orientation of the second-floor beams directing one’s gaze toward the horizon. Outside, the column bases are elevated on foundations and wrapped in copper to prevent decay, creating a material dialogue between concrete, copper, and wood that evokes the precision of furniture. By treating structural elements with this level of refinement, we sought to foster a sense of long-term attachment.