Project Name: Strolling Gardens & House

Location: Eastern Japan

Design Team: IKAWAYA Architects

Total Floor Area: 688.93 m²

Completion: May 2024

Photography: Michikado Mishima

Feature:

Project - In a residential area of eastern Japan, the "Strolling Gardens & House" stands out for its innovative design approach. Situated on an irregularly shaped plot, IKAWAYA Architects responded to this challenge by creating a living experience that seamlessly integrates nature with daily life.

The core concept of the building is "stacking gardens in multiple directions," creating garden spaces of varying sizes at different levels and orientations, allowing residents to continuously experience nature throughout their daily activities. Rather than designing one large monolithic structure, the architects chose to break the house into multiple "small boxes" cleverly arranged along the irregular site boundaries. This solution not only adapts to the site constraints but also harmonizes with the scale of the surrounding residential area, avoiding visual imposition on the neighborhood.

This composition creates a rich spatial sequence, forming a unique circulatory experience. Residents can experience variations between openness and privacy as they move through different spaces, with each area offering different dwelling possibilities that meet the diverse living needs of the family. This circulatory design draws inspiration from traditional Japanese strolling gardens but reinterprets them for contemporary living.

The façade design reflects the diversity of interior spaces, with carefully placed windows and courtyards creating a dialogue between interior and exterior spaces. Handcrafted materials and tactile surface treatments emphasize the connection to nature, creating a warm and textured environment. The architects' attention to detail is evident at every junction and turn, demonstrating a commitment to craftsmanship.

"Strolling Gardens & House" exemplifies how seemingly restrictive site conditions can be transformed into unique design advantages. Here, gardens are not merely decorative elements but central components of the living experience, prompting residents to recognize themselves as part of natural cycles. The project successfully balances practical requirements of contemporary living with the desire for natural experiences, creating a family environment that is both avant-garde and intimate.

Design Team - IKAWAYA Architects was established by Atsushi Ikawa in 2017 and has grown to become one of Japan's most innovative architectural practices. Born in Osaka in 1980 and raised in Gifu, Ikawa completed his Master's program at Tokyo Metropolitan University in 2004, followed by formative experience at Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP architectural office.

Currently, the IKAWAYA team consists of 8 professionals providing comprehensive services including architectural design, interior design, landscape planning, and project supervision. The firm is known for its keen understanding of spatial experience and clever integration of natural elements, with works often showcasing fluid spatial sequences and rich material expressions.

IKAWAYA's design philosophy emphasizes architecture that responds to both emotional and physiological needs of users, creating environments that are both practical and poetic. They view architecture holistically, carefully considering how each detail affects the quality of the living experience.

The firm has received numerous awards for excellence in design, including the 2024 DFA Design for Asia Silver and Bronze Awards, the 2023 Modern Living Grand Prize, and the JID Award. Ikawa himself has been serving as a Visiting Professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University since 2021, continuing to influence and nurture the next generation of architects.

Through projects like "Strolling Gardens & House," IKAWAYA Architects demonstrates its unique ability to create architectural works that both respond to local environments and meet the demands of modern living, representing the forefront of contemporary residential design in Japan.