Nora House
Encyclopedia
The Nora House is located in the countryside outside the city of Sendai, 190 miles (305.8 km) north of Tokyo
, Japan
. This 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) site belonged to a residential community
that developed in the 1960s when the area was mostly farmland
. Additionally the site is across the street from the wife’s childhood home.
in collaboration with the Tokyo Institute of Technology
for a couple with a young child who had just moved back from the city. As part of the Atelier's ideology
, to maximise the potential of small spaces, the Architects had to step away from working vertically and start to develop the design horizontally.
"In Tokyo, we have done a lot of one-room living, but in a more vertical way," explains Tsukamoto. "Here, we developed the idea horizontally."
The result was a single storey house which spreads out over nine different levels divided only by short stairs and three freestanding partitions. Since the architect
s decided to integrate features of the traditional minka
farmhouses, they were able to create a new typology for the mixed agricultural and urban land that is found at the fringes of Japanese cities. Additionally by using this traditional building style the architects were able to blend this expressive and open-to-the-street house with the adjacent pitched roof
residences covered with metal siding or stucco
. The minka style shows in the high peaked roof that serves as a substitute of a chimney
, covered porch, the large fluid interior space and timber
construction. In addition the unusual roof was to accommodate for the extensive precipitation
experienced in many parts of Japan. Thus the steeply peaked roof allowed the rain and snow to fall straight off it, preventing water from getting into the home.
-like characteristics, such as being small, humorous, charming, rebellious, unexpected and adapt themselves to their environments.
As pet architecture does not use the forefront technology
and does not make the appearance its first consideration, it is a great tool for users to customise their building on a low budget
. Since it is defined by using curious shapes and inventive solutions for drainage
, window
s and air conditioning
, they highlight their unique location, produce a relaxed atmosphere and therefore help to relieve the occupant.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. This 2500 square feet (232.3 m²) site belonged to a residential community
Residential community
A residential community is a community, usually a small town or city, that is composed mostly of residents, as opposed to commercial businesses and/or industrial facilities, all three of which are considered to be the three main types of occupants of the typical community.Residential communities...
that developed in the 1960s when the area was mostly farmland
Farmland
Farmland generally refers to agricultural land, or land currently used for the purposes of farming. It may also refer to:*Arable land, land capable of cultivating crops*Farmland, Indiana, a town in the United States...
. Additionally the site is across the street from the wife’s childhood home.
Description
It was designed by Atelier Bow-WowAtelier Bow-Wow
Atelier Bow-Wow is a Tokyo-based architecture firm, founded in 1992 by Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kajima. The firm is well known for its domestic and cultural architecture and its research exploring the urban conditions of micro, ad hoc architecture....
in collaboration with the Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Institute of Technology
The Tokyo Institute of Technology is a public research university located in Greater Tokyo Area, Japan. Tokyo Tech is the largest institution for higher education in Japan dedicated to science and technology. Tokyo Tech enrolled 4,850 undergaraduates and 5006 graduate students for 2009-2010...
for a couple with a young child who had just moved back from the city. As part of the Atelier's ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
, to maximise the potential of small spaces, the Architects had to step away from working vertically and start to develop the design horizontally.
"In Tokyo, we have done a lot of one-room living, but in a more vertical way," explains Tsukamoto. "Here, we developed the idea horizontally."
The result was a single storey house which spreads out over nine different levels divided only by short stairs and three freestanding partitions. Since the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s decided to integrate features of the traditional minka
Minka
are private residences constructed in any one of several traditional Japanese building styles.In the context of the four divisions of society, minka were the dwellings of farmers, artisans, and merchants , but this connotation no longer exists in the modern Japanese language, and any traditional...
farmhouses, they were able to create a new typology for the mixed agricultural and urban land that is found at the fringes of Japanese cities. Additionally by using this traditional building style the architects were able to blend this expressive and open-to-the-street house with the adjacent pitched roof
Pitched roof
A pitched roof is a roof for which one or more roof surfaces is pitched more than 10 degrees, and alternately a roof with two slopes that meet at a central ridge. Some definitions are even more general, including any roof with a sloping surface or surfaces....
residences covered with metal siding or stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
. The minka style shows in the high peaked roof that serves as a substitute of a chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
, covered porch, the large fluid interior space and timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
construction. In addition the unusual roof was to accommodate for the extensive precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
experienced in many parts of Japan. Thus the steeply peaked roof allowed the rain and snow to fall straight off it, preventing water from getting into the home.
Pet Architecture
The Nora House is part of the Pet Architecture, a term created by Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kaijima, the founder Of Atelier Bow-Wow. It is a term for buildings that have been squeezed into left-over urban spaces. The name "Pet architecture" refers to houses which have petPet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
-like characteristics, such as being small, humorous, charming, rebellious, unexpected and adapt themselves to their environments.
As pet architecture does not use the forefront technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and does not make the appearance its first consideration, it is a great tool for users to customise their building on a low budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
. Since it is defined by using curious shapes and inventive solutions for drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
, window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s and air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
, they highlight their unique location, produce a relaxed atmosphere and therefore help to relieve the occupant.