Project Name: Awaji Island Dog Villa

Location: Awaji Island, Hyogo, Japan

Design Team: 1110 Architectural Design Office

Total Floor Area: 185.49㎡

Completion: November 2024

Photography: Yohei Sasakura

Feature:

Project - Nestled in a developing area of Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, the Dog Villa by 1110 Architectural Design Office emerges as a masterful exercise in balancing privacy with natural connectivity. Spanning 185.49 square meters, this contemporary vacation rental challenges traditional notions of inward-facing architecture through an innovative "weakened courtyard house" concept.

The project's core philosophy revolves around finding equilibrium within uncertain surroundings, neither rejecting nor uncritically accepting the changing landscape. Architect Hiroto Kawaguchi has crafted a dwelling that functions not merely as a residence but as a mediator between interior and exterior environments. The villa arranges variously sized rooms in a "necklace-like" configuration that encircles a central dog-friendly courtyard, creating a spatial experience that is both protected and connected to the surrounding vistas.

Innovative sustainability is evident in the exterior choices. Responding to strong coastal winds and salt damage, the design employs seamless roof-wall construction using salt-resistant galvanized steel panels. Its reddish-brown facade harmonizes with the traditional Awaji streetscape, while visible cedar interior elements respond to the nearby park greenery and distant mountain scenery.

The interior is characterized by gentle skip floors that gradually elevate living spaces, diminishing the impact of road traffic while creating interconnected zones where humans and dogs can naturally coexist. Rather than conforming to existing topography, the villa shaped the landscape itself, creating a gentle hill within the courtyard using excavated soil that perfectly aligns with interior levels.

More than just a vacation house, the Awaji Island Dog Villa is a meditation on how contemporary architecture can coexist harmoniously with nature—a modern sanctuary that allows inhabitants to maintain privacy while establishing profound connections with Awaji Island's varied natural scenery.

Design Team - Founded in 2017 by Hiroto Kawaguchi and formally established in March 2018, 1110 Architectural Design Office has rapidly emerged as one of Japan's most thoughtful architectural practices. Located in Osaka's vibrant Minami-Horie district in Nishi Ward, this licensed first-class architectural firm has distinguished itself through a philosophy that balances distinct character with innovative design approaches.

Recognized for its profound integration of inherent qualities with forward-thinking design, the firm has garnered international recognition with publications in prestigious platforms. The office's design philosophy centers on creating architectural spaces that respect site specificity while introducing progressive thinking, responding critically to urban transformation and environmental challenges.

Led by founding principal Hiroto Kawaguchi, the practice has developed a robust portfolio of residential, commercial, and adaptive reuse projects. Kawaguchi holds a Master of Engineering degree and is a registered first-class architect (No. 359038) with extensive experience gained at Takenaka Corporation's Osaka design division (2009-2017). His work is characterized by meticulous attention to materiality, spatial sequence, and environmental integration.

With multidisciplinary capabilities—including architectural design, land use planning, strategic consulting, and industrial design—1110 Architectural Design Office continues to push the boundaries of contemporary architectural practice, offering integrated design solutions that are both environmentally responsive and deeply attuned to human experience. As a practicing academic, Kawaguchi concurrently serves as a lecturer at Osaka Metropolitan University, Kindai University, and Setsunan University, ensuring the firm's theoretical approaches remain at the forefront of architectural discourse.