
River Sea Villa
KAWAZOE JUNICHIRO ARCHITECTS
Project Name: River Sea Villa
Location: Sumoto, Japan
Design Team: KAWAZOE JUNICHIRO ARCHITECTS
Total Floor Area: 4596 ft² (427 m²)
Completion: 2021
Photography: Yoshiharu Matsumura
Feature:
Project - Located near the river mouth in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, the River Sea Villa designed by KAWAZOE JUNICHIRO ARCHITECTS is more than just a resort residence------it is a poetic expression that perfectly fuses traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary architectural language. Directly inspired by its unique geographical position, this site connecting river and sea, the residence translates the essence of traditional vernacular architecture into architectural forms for contemporary resort experience.
The most striking element of the project is the sinuous "Path," an organic circulation route connecting three functionally distinct pavilions------the entrance building, guest quarters, and main villa. This architectural gesture not only creates a gradual transition from public to private spaces but also establishes a continuous experience where interior and exterior boundaries blur, as if the entire building were an organic entity gently integrated into the natural landscape.
Guided by this Path, the residence presents itself as three horizontally extended roofs that float lightly above the curved walls. The upper spaces accommodate social areas: living room, dining room, and leisure spaces. The organization of these spaces aims to foster interior-exterior fluidity, reflecting a tranquil yet elegant resort lifestyle.
The building's material expression creates striking contrasts. Clad with twenty thousand border tiles crafted from traditional Awaji roof tiles------a material with strong regional character------combined with local plaster finishes, the architecture is imbued with profound cultural depth. The subtle color variations from uneven tile firing are cleverly preserved, presenting dynamic expressions of flame and craft on the wall surfaces, reinforcing deep connections to Awaji Island traditions.
River Sea Villa thus becomes an architectural expression that seeks to go beyond functionality. It tells a story about the dialogue between tradition and modernity, establishing sensitive conversations between residents' resort experiences, carefully selected regional materials, and the surrounding river-sea landscape. A light and poetic architectural ensemble resting along the waterfront------a silent homage to the art of stitching traditional craftsmanship, contemporary living, and natural spaces together.
Design Team - KAWAZOE JUNICHIRO ARCHITECTS, established in 2000 and based in Kobe, Japan, has emerged as a distinguished architectural practice renowned for its synthesis of timeless design principles and environmental sensitivity over more than two decades of professional excellence. Led by principal architect Junichiro Kawazoe and partner Kazue Kawazoe, the firm's professional practice is based on careful study of site context and client lifestyles, always seeking unique and culturally meaningful solutions for each project.
Fundamentals such as harmonious integration with nature, innovative application of traditional materials, and sophisticated handling of interior-exterior spatial relationships are characteristics that permeate all their work. Allied to these concepts, the team's work takes Japanese traditional architectural wisdom as a starting point, rethinking its core concepts to answer contemporary architectural needs with modern approaches.
The studio's design philosophy synthesizes three fundamental principles: timeless aesthetics that transcend temporal boundaries, minimal expression achieving maximum spatial richness through refined elemental reduction, and sophisticated integration of interior-exterior spatial relationships. These core tenets permeate every project scale, from luxury resorts and cultural institutions to residential and welfare facilities.
KAWAZOE JUNICHIRO ARCHITECTS' architectural approach draws profound inspiration from Japanese traditional architecture while simultaneously challenging conventional paradigms to address contemporary spatial challenges. The firm's commitment to innovation has garnered international recognition, including Gold awards at The International Design Awards for both Glenbarra Art Museum and River Sea Villa, Architecture MasterPrize, and A' Design Award Silver among multiple honors. Their resort architecture projects exemplify a sophisticated balance between cultural heritage and modern innovation, establishing new benchmarks for Japanese contemporary architecture through rigorous material research and spatial exploration.
427 m²
Sumoto, Japan
2021
