House in Sashiogi by Waro Kishi + K.ASSOCIATES/Architects

Nestled on the outskirts of Tokyo in Sashiogi, Saitama, this residence designed by Waro Kishi + K.ASSOCIATES/Architects embraces the fluid transition between countryside and urbanization. The 300 m² site, surrounded by agricultural fields and scattered buildings, offered an open canvas for rethinking Japanese residential architecture in a rapidly transforming environment.

Architectural Concept

The house explores the idea of a semi open-plan design, responding both to the rural present and the urbanized future of its surroundings.

• Double-skin façade system: An outer semi-transparent metal wall partially shields the home from external views. Behind it, transparent glass walls create a “buffer zone,” blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
• Adaptability to urbanization: This layered approach creates a protective yet permeable envelope, ensuring the house evolves with its changing context while preserving privacy and openness.

Spatial Organization

The residence is conceived as a one-story, open-plan house, emphasizing continuity and flexibility:

• Central living space: A wide, unobstructed layout fosters free circulation and interaction.
• Outdoor decks and in-between spaces: These act as transitional zones, reinforcing the connection with the landscape.
• Interior atmosphere: Contrasts emerge between warm natural wood and cool industrial materials, forming a balanced architectural composition.

Structural and Material Strategy

The house is primarily built using a wooden structural system with rafters as the main framework. Complementing this:

• Factory-made industrial materials provide durability and efficiency.
• Wooden elements bring warmth, intimacy, and connection to tradition.
• The result is a hybrid modern Japanese home where craftsmanship and industrial precision coexist harmoniously.

Architectural References

The design reflects inspiration from Richard Neutra’s Strathmore Apartment (1937) and the Case Study Houses of Los Angeles. Much like mid-century California, Tokyo’s suburban landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. The architect imagines this project as a 21st-century Case Study House for Tokyo, where openness, adaptability, and integration with changing environments define contemporary living.

The House in Sashiogi is more than a residence—it is a prototype for future suburban Japanese homes. By combining open-plan living, double-skin façades, and a dialogue between wood and industrial materials, the project redefines what it means to live between tradition, landscape, and urban growth.

All Photographs are works of Shigeo Ogawa