The Belvedere
House for Ichiekensho Co.Ltd.
This was was built in Okayama prefecture, Japan. The house is designed to be like living in a museum where art is displayed and art becomes a part of daily life. The walls of the house are all brick, which looks monotonous but it blends beautifully with the surrounding nature and is never come to boring. The entrance creates welcoming space with a bright wood ceiling. A flat hallway leads to a gallery space where visitors can enjoy artwork and beautiful lighting fixtures.
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The Belvedere by Chikako Matsuo
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House by Chikako Matsuo
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Chikako Matsuo The Belvedere
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Chikako Matsuo House
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Ichiekensho Co Ltd Brand Logo
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Unique Properties
All the walls of this house are made of brick, which may seem monotonous, but it blends in perfectly with the surrounding nature and never becomes boring.The entranceway is designed to wrap around the house, and visitors are greeted by a porch with a brightly wood paneled ceiling. The entranceway is richly covered with Towada stone, which is mined only in Akita Prefecture, Japan.The flat corridor leads to a gallery space where visitors can enjoy artwork and beautiful lighting fixtures.
Tags
house, green, japan, Architecture, hill, nature
Production Technology
The wooden structure has a flat roof and has a considerable amount of insulation on it.
Design Challenge
The house is a long one-story building that requires adequate lighting. As per the client's request we avoided installing windows on the street side to maintain privacy. However we solved this problem by constructing two gardens in the middle of the building and incorporating top lights to ensure proper illumination.
Project Duration
Hayashima-cho, Tsukubo-gun, Okayama, Japan Project period 3 years Completion in 2022
Operation Flow
The owner of this house was very specific about the materials used, such as wood, natural stone, and tiles, to achieve high quality. To ensure that the exterior stayed visually appealing even after many years of residency, it was designed on a traditional Japanese roof with deep eaves, while also making sure that the windows and doors were not visible.
Research
The house is a spacious single-story building situated on a hill with no other structures around it. As a result, we had extensive conversations on how to tackle the issue of summer heat. We resolved the problem by incorporating a substantial amount of insulation material on the roof and creating an air layer between the ceiling and the roof. Furthermore, we installed only a minimal amount of windows on the west side to enjoy the scenic view.
Inspiration
The client is very interested in art and artifacts and wanted a space where he could display his collection and enjoy it daily, so we proposed a house where he could enjoy his works as if it were a museum. The proposed site for the house is on a hill, so we designed the house to be imposing, and the colors were chosen so as not to detract from the surrounding landscape.
Image Credits
Photographer Senichiro Nogami
Project Overview
The Belvedere House has been a Iron winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Iron Recognition
Chikako Matsuo was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work The Belvedere House.
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