Project Name: dots n / Agricultural Housing Complex

Location: Nodao District, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Design Team: FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES

Total Floor Area: 53.82 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Shigeo Ogawa / Shigeo Ogawa Photography Office

Feature:

Project - FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES completed an innovative agricultural housing complex in Nodao District, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, seamlessly integrating five residential units with private farming plots to provide urban residents with a unique transitional living experience towards agricultural life. This groundbreaking project, commissioned by Awaji City as a municipal facility, addresses rural depopulation and abandoned farmland issues while fulfilling urbanites' growing desire to reconnect with the land.

The project's most distinctive feature lies in its spatial arrangement based on the traditional Japanese "ta-no-ji" grid plan, creating seamless transitions from outdoor farming activities to interior living spaces. Each approximately 50-square-meter dwelling is paired with an equally sized private agricultural plot, establishing an intimate scale that encourages hands-on agricultural engagement. The hip-roof design crowned with ventilation towers ensures the buildings cast minimal shadows on surrounding farmland from any direction.

FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES ' design philosophy centers on creating "landscapes that feel both new and nostalgic, unique to this place alone." The architects ingeniously connected large eaves spaces, earthen-floor living areas, and main residential zones, allowing residents to transition directly from garden work into interior spaces while wearing muddy boots, embodying a distinctly agricultural way of living that contrasts sharply with urban residential conventions.

Material selection is deeply rooted in local cultural traditions. Recognizing Awaji Island's lack of forestry resources but rich clay heritage, the architects incorporated locally-sourced earth materials throughout the project. Roof tiles, earthen walls, door handles, and even nameplates all draw from the island's clay traditions, creating profound cultural connections to place.

The building's strategic positioning captures layered landscapes from serene terraced rice fields to sparkling ocean surfaces, extending to Osaka's urban skyline in the distance. This design approach establishes subtle balance between urban consciousness and rural tranquility, allowing residents to experience "time unique to this place alone."

Most notably, the dots n project demonstrates how contemporary residential architecture can achieve social functionality while creating living spaces intimately connected to traditional agricultural culture, establishing a new paradigm for Japanese rural revitalization and urban-rural exchange.

Design Team - Founded in 2006 by principal architect Fumi Aso, FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES has established itself as a distinguished practice specializing in residential and community-focused architecture that bridges contemporary design with deep cultural resonance. Based in Kobe, the firm operates under Design Director Fumi Aso's leadership, with core team members including Saya Baba and other professionals, adhering to the philosophy that every building carries embedded histories.

Principal architect Fumi Aso graduated from Kanazawa Institute of Technology with a Master's degree in Architecture, bringing nearly two decades of design expertise to the practice. Her approach emphasizes contextual sensitivity and material authenticity, a philosophy that permeates projects ranging from residential renovations to community facilities. The firm's design philosophy of "the client's aspirations become the architecture itself" demonstrates deep understanding and respect for client visions.

FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES ' methodology centers on intensive site analysis and client collaboration, consistently producing architecture that feels both innovative and deeply rooted in its environment. This approach has garnered significant recognition, including the prestigious Watanabe Setsu Prize at the 63rd Osaka Architecture Competition in 2019, the Hokuriku Architecture Culture Award from the Japan Institute of Architects Hokuriku Branch in 2022, and selection as Architects of the Year 2024 by the Japan Architectural Design Association.

The firm's commitment to sustainability and future-oriented design is evident in its diverse portfolio, from award-winning residential projects like Hat house to community facilities like dots n, demonstrating excellence across different project scales and complexities. Through unique cultural sensitivity and professional excellence, FUMIASO ARCHITECT & ASSOCIATES continues to shape Japan's contemporary architectural landscape while maintaining strong client relationships and community engagement.

The firm actively participates in architectural education and social activities, with Fumi Aso serving as part-time lecturer at Mukogawa Women's University and Setsunan University. Through various exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, the practice contributes to the preservation and development of Japanese architectural culture, establishing itself as an important voice in contemporary cross-cultural architectural discourse.