Wind-dyed House

Glass and screens along the enclosed perimeter of the
house gives the second floor of this residence a certain
transparency. Slender, deep-set eaves cast deep shadows
on the façade of the building, softening the impact of the
building’s physical presence in relation to its environment.

The various components of the building were structured in
order to allow the inhabitants to enjoy a different view of
the outside on each level. The first floor features a stone
floor and concrete walls finished with plaster, while the
Japanese paper screens fitted inside the glass reflect the
shadows of plants and trees. The hard-edged surfaces and
finishes coexist with the soft, muted tones of the Japanese
paper.

The second storey, in contrast, features an open-plan
living space, the entirety of which can be opened up
towards the ocean. A series of wide eaves stand between
the outside of the house and the interior, which is
articulated into smaller sections by a row of pillars. Going
down the staircase-shaped terrace allows one to gradually
draw closer to the outdoor landscape. The section that
divides the two different elevations on this floor provides
seating throughout, functioning as a unique Japanese-style
verandah (engawa). A steel-reinforced concrete structure
was used for the second floor, and a Vierendeel bridge
structure allowed us to float a large, thin roof on top. The
pillars consist of square cylindrical poles (diameter 75mm)
made of pure iron arranged in a densely packed formation
using wooden modules (900–1800mm). By creating several
areas of low-level rigidity, we were able to do away with
the need for braces.