Water / Glass © Mitsumasa Fujitsuka
Japan 1995

Water / Glass

Shizuoka
Residential
Completed
3F

The design of this villa was influenced greatly by “Hyuga” Villa, the sole project which Bruno Taut had left in Japan. The design also gained influences by the philosophies of Taut. Taut’s stay in Japan lasted from 1933 until 1936. Meanwhile, his praise over Katsura Palace was ever-lasting. The reasoning for his commendation lied in the fact that the Palace frames the nature yet frames by being one with nature.

Taut specifically paid attention to mechanisms in Katsura Palace that provoked the framing of nature with nature: the eaves and the bamboo verandas. Thus, in our villa, a layer of water which gently covers the building edges signified bamboo verandas in Katsura. Moreover, a stainless louver that roofs the water signified the eaves. The water surface stretches further out and unites the surface with the Pacific Ocean. And on top of the joined surface, a glass box floats. As the box is super-imposed numerous times, refraction of materials brings in reflections of sorts. The relationship between the subject and the environment is challenged upon in various manners by re-defining and re-shaping the Katsura philosophy, yet always maintaining its fundamental essence.

Team Sayaka Mizuno* Cooperation Nakata Structural Design Office Facility Yamazaki Setsubi, Kawaguchi Setsubi Award AIA (American Institute of Architects) Dupont Benedictus Award First Place Publication Casa BRUTUS 2024/10 vol.294 , Casa BRUTUS 2021/09 Vol.257 , Shoten Kenchiku 2020/11 Vol.65 No.11 , Casa BRUTUS 2016/01 Vol.190 , Nikkei Architecture 2004/10/04 No.780 , GA JAPAN 67 , Casa BRUTUS 2000/12 vol.9 , JA : The Japan Architect 2000/Summer 38 kengo kuma 隈研吾 , Casa BRUTUS 1999/03 , Nikkei Architecture 1998/08/24 No.619 , Nikkei Architecture 1998/08/24 No.619 , Shinkenchiku 1997/07 , DETAIL 1996/04 No.128 , Nikkei Architecture 1996/02/19(増刊) , Shinkenchiku 1995/12 臨時増刊 , Nikkei Architecture 1995/09/18(増刊) , JA : The Japan Architect 1995-03/Autumn No.19 , JA : The Japan Architect 1995-03/Autumn No.19 , Shinkenchiku 1995/08 , Nikkei Architecture 1995/07/03 , Shinkenchiku 1995/07 , GA JAPAN 11 Photography ©︎ Mitsumasa Fujitsuka