Project Name: Akaogi Engawa House

Location: Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan

Design Team: Ryosuke Ono Architects

Principal Architect: Ryosuke Ono

Structural Design: Enshu Structural Design (Lead: Ko Enshu)

Construction Management: Sei Construction (Leads: Yoshinori Ikehata, Kazutoyo Sei)

Construction Chief: Kazuyuki Yamada

Building Area: 108.08 m²

Site Area: 382.33 m²

Floor Area: 89.02 m²

Design Period: August 2022 - October 2023

Construction Period: November 2023 - May 2024

Completion Date: May 2024

Photographer: Norihisa Ishii

Feature：

Project - In a thoughtful reimagining of multi-generational living, Japanese architecture firm Ryosuke Ono Architects has unveiled the Akaogi Engawa House, a single-story residence in Kagoshima Prefecture that masterfully balances private and communal spaces through an innovative architectural approach.

The project's standout feature is its ingenious response to the challenge of housing three generations under one roof while maintaining both independence and connection. Rather than adopting the conventional large-living-room-small-bedrooms layout, the architects introduced a covered outdoor space equal in size to the living room, serving as a sophisticated buffer zone between the mother's private quarters and the family's communal areas.

The home's distinctive silhouette is defined by a grand gabled roof split into three sections with varying pitches, unified by carefully placed glazing at the level changes. This thoughtful design allows natural light to flood the interior spaces while creating a cohesive architectural whole. The roof's practical considerations extend to typhoon protection, with the upper glazing specifically engineered to withstand flying debris through the use of laminated security glass and strategic overhangs, maintaining luminosity even during severe weather conditions.

Set within a converted agricultural plot that has been in the family for generations, the house benefits from an unchanging pastoral backdrop that informed many of the design decisions. The architects have created a delicate balance of sight lines and openings that allow family members to sense each other's presence while maintaining privacy when desired. The result is a nuanced interpretation of traditional Japanese engawa (veranda) architecture, where the edge condition becomes a vital space for family interaction and connection to the landscape.

This 89-square-meter dwelling represents a sophisticated evolution of the multi-generational home typology, where architectural elements serve both practical and emotional needs, creating spaces that respect individual autonomy while fostering family togetherness.

Design Team - Founded in 2018, Ryosuke Ono Architects has rapidly established itself as an innovative architectural practice, garnering significant recognition for its contextual approach to contemporary Japanese architecture. Led by Principal Architect Ryosuke Ono, who graduated from Yokohama National University and completed his master's at Y-GSA (Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture), the firm has developed a distinctive design philosophy that seamlessly bridges traditional Japanese spatial concepts with modern architectural solutions.

The practice, based in Amami Oshima, has distinguished itself through a portfolio of thoughtfully crafted residential and commercial projects. Their work has been widely recognized, earning prestigious accolades including the 2024 Kyushu New Architect Award, the 2023 Roofed Architecture Contest Excellence Award, and the 2022 Good Design Award. Most notably, their project "Sumikura" received multiple honors, including the JIA (Japan Institute of Architects) Excellence in Architecture Selection 2022 and the Japan Spatial Design Award 2022 Gold Prize.

The firm specializes in architectural design and supervision, renovation and conversion projects, land-use planning, facility consulting, and custom furniture design. Their expertise in timber construction and sensitivity to local contexts has become a hallmark of their practice. Under Ono's leadership, the studio approaches each project with meticulous attention to spatial composition, environmental integration, and material articulation, resulting in architecture that resonates deeply with both its users and surroundings.