The Ogham alphabet has 5 vowels. The number 5 is the sacred number of the 'White Goddess'. Like all five vowel trees, pine is a female tree. And it is also the first vowel A, the tree of birth.
In ancient Greece, the pine tree was the goddess of the moon and dedicated to Artemis, who was responsible for the birth of children.The birth of Christ is celebrated on 25 December, and the Christmas tree decorated on this day is Norway spruce. The spruce is a member of the pine tree family. Although Christ's birthday is now celebrated on 25 December, it is believed that in earlier times our ancestors celebrated the birth of the Son of God on 23 December.
23 December marked the beginning of the 'Half Year of Light' and the birth of the "Son of God, the King of the Flourishing Half Year", and a gift of the wisdom of our ancestors.
On the winter solstice, druids (Ref2) in Europe lit large bonfires of pine and yew. Around the same time, the festival of the Druid Queen, Druantia, also took place. These large bonfires, which were built on the winter solstice, were passed on to the Yule Log. While the Yule festival lasted, people lit candles on pine trees and decorated them with glittering objects. The Christmas tree is the successor to this custom.
The ancients believed that the pine cones were cleverly guided by magical powers, as they spiralled and followed the same clockwise direction on their trunks as the earth around the sun. Yellow pollen was utilised in the 'money-accumulation spell' as yellow attracts gold. Pine branches are said to prevent evil from entering the house if hung over doors and windows, and old people are said to be rejuvenated if they carry pine cones.
Futhermore, Native Americans put a bag full of pine needles under their pillows on the floor when they have insomnia. In ancient Egypt, doctors in the Pharaoh's service used pine tar and turpentine oil to treat pneumonia.
The ancients learnt from the towering pines the importance of looking at things objectively and from a broad perspective. Pine teaches that you have to be positive about things, correct mistakes immediately and chase responsibility yourself.
So, have a happy Christmas everyone, surrounded by the tree again this year.
“House in Shukugawa” is located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, on a compact flagpole-shaped lot surrounded on all sides by two-story neighboring houses.
The site conditions made it difficult to open the house to the outside for privacy reasons, so we aimed to create an independent world for the client on the inside.
The "moderately centripetal plane" and the "dome with a large volume" give the space an inclusive feeling, so that even in a closed box, the client does not feel cramped, but can enjoy the beautiful greenery and light while living comfortably. The house was designed to be comfortable while loving beautiful greenery and light, without feeling cramped in a closed box.
Located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, the surroundings along the Shukugawa River are quiet, with abundant nature and a long-established residential area. Due to the high value of land and the relatively high unit price per tsubo, there are many areas where land is densely subdivided into smaller lots.
The site was a compact, flagpole-shaped lot surrounded on all sides by two-story neighboring houses. These conditions were by no means good. However, the client purchased the lot because of its good surrounding environment and the fact that it was in an area that he had grown familiar with since childhood.
⚪︎Requests
The ideal living conditions and requests we recieved from the client can be organized into the following five categories.
To be able to feel nature (greenery, light, wind) and the four seasons (change of time) even inside the house.
To be able to cherish hygge (Danish word meaning "comfortable space" or "enjoyable time") while ensuring privacy.
The spirit of "In Praise of Shadows" should be valued, and changes in shadows and ambient light should be sensed with subtlety. The lighting scheme should not be uniformly bright, but varied and gradual.
The entire space should be loosely connected, but with a variety of spatial volumes to suit different uses.
The design should have a universality that will allow the owner to enjoy the house, from the interior to the exterior, for a long time.
Based on these themes and the site conditions, the architectural form was studied.
⚪︎Design concept
The site conditions made it difficult to open the house to the outside for privacy reasons, so we aimed to create an independent world within the house in line with the client's preferences. Many of the interior images they shared with us had a European feel, and we decided to incorporate these elements into the design.
First, the footprint of the building was set as large as possible in relation to the site, and it was designed to be boxy and closed to the outside. To allow the interior to experience nature and the four seasons, a courtyard was placed in the north corner, where it is relatively easy to secure lighting. The hall (living and dining room), kitchen, and other active spaces are located around the courtyard. Rooms for individual rest, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, were kept to the minimum necessary size and placed on the second floor. (The storage furniture in the bedroom is movable in order to accommodate changes in usage.)
The hall, the most distinctive feature of this house, was intended to be a space that gently envelops time with family and close friends without feeling cramped in a house closed to the outside. The hall has a moderately centripetal plane that creates a sense of harmony, and a large dome-shaped volume that ensures a cozy atmosphere even when people gather together, giving the space a sense of inclusiveness.
In contrast to the completely private space on the second floor, the first floor has a semi-public atmosphere even though it is a house, creating a sense of change and depth within the narrow box. The tiled floor, the dining table that resembles a terrace in an alley, the balcony-like landing that protrudes into the atrium, and the slightly austere atmosphere created by the dome and symbolic top light all work together to create the atmosphere of the ground floor.
In terms of lighting, it is important not only to have brightness, but also to have a sense of relative brightness. While minimizing the openings in the hall to lower the overall illumination level, we organized the sequence of brightness so that the light falling on the courtyard would be perceived as beautiful as possible. The walls and ceiling are finished in a uniform light reddish-brown plaster, which allows the warmth of the light to be felt while amplifying the brightness of the space.
In terms of spatial manipulation, the soft curvature of the outer courtyard wall corners, the seamless plastered dome ceiling, and the low ceiling height of the first floor in contrast to the dome create the illusion of distance and visual expansion in a compact space.
⚪︎Interior Environment
A comfortable thermal environment is also essential for creating a cozy space. As the entire building is compact and gently connected, the volume can be efficiently heated in winter by floor heating installed in the ground-floor hall and kitchen. The walls and ceilings are plastered (with a Marble Feel) throughout to enhance the building's own humidity control.
The ventilation system is "Class 1 Ventilation*1. The ventilation system uses a total heat exchange type ventilation fan (ondaless) with a temperature exchange efficiency of 92%, which allows ventilation without compromising indoor temperature and humidity during air supply and exhaust, resulting in comfort and reduced heating and cooling loads.
The insulation is of the sprayed wooden type, which is more airtight and has better moisture permeability than ordinary board-type insulation. Low-E double-glazing glass with an argon gas filling are used to enhance thermal insulation.
*1 "Type 1 Ventilation". A ventilation method in which both air supply and exhaust are done by a mechanical ventilator.
⚪︎Structural Planning
Tosa wood from Kochi Prefecture known for its high strength, were used for the structural members of the wooden frame. Tosa cedar was used for the upper frame, and Tosa cypress was used for the foundation because of its higher strength and durability. The construction company purchased these materials directly from Kochi Prefecture, ensuring stable quality and reducing costs.
⚪︎Landscaping plan
The courtyard, an important element of the house, is designed with a mix of trees that reflect the light and wind. Multiple layers, from undergrowth such as moss and ferns to landscape stones and medium height trees, create a compact yet deep landscape. The compactness of the space also means that the plants are close to people, allowing the users to feel the weather and the changing seasons in their daily lives. The cobblestone pavement enables the use of a terrace-like space, where one can casually step outside for a light meal when the weather is nice. We aimed to bring the richness of loving plants and trees into people's lives.
The approach to the site is made up of tan-brown granite, which is boldly pulled into the entrance floor of the house to create a continuous line. Since it is a narrow passageway between neighboring properties, we created an elaborate finish to give visitors a sense of anticipation of what lies ahead. The use of stone paving also directs visitors' attention to their feet, helping to create a sense of openness in the hall atrium.
⚪︎Lighting Plan
The base lighting is not too bright, and the presence of the fixtures themselves is minimized as much as possible. In particular, the lighting that enhances the plants in the courtyard illuminates from a high position, like moonlight, to prevent reflections on the glass and to express the natural beauty of the plants. In the hall, lights were installed in the air conditioner niche avoiding the exposure of fixtures on the ceiling surface, so as not to spoil the abstractness of the space.
On the other hand, at the place where people are welcomed in or stay (entrance, dining room, living room, and restroom), lighting with a textured presence is placed to contribute to the interior design and accentuate the space.
⚪︎Summary
In an environment where neighboring houses are densely packed, we were able to build a world for the residents by separating the interior spaces from their surroundings. The client spends his busy days at work, but during his time here, he wants to forget his work, surround himself with his favorite things, and spend truly restful moments with his family and friends. We hope that daily life in a house that heals both body and soul will be a source of daily vitality. We hope that this home will be a vessel to support such a lifestyle.
⚪︎Property Information
Client|Couple
Total floor area|70.10m2
Building area|42.56m2
1floor area|39.59m2
2floor area|30.51m2
Location|Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo, Japan
Zoning|Article 22 zone
Structure|Wooden 2 stories
Exterior|Galvalume steel sheet, sprayed with Jolipad
Vocab
提供 (ていきょう) providing, donating
発行(はっこう)publication
憲法(けんぽう) constitution
民法(みんぽう) civil code, civil law
起草(きそう) (drafting (a bill, etc.), drawing up
内閣総理大臣 (ないかくそうりだいじん)prime minister (of a cabinet government)
伊藤博文 (いとう・ひろぶみ)Itou Hirobumi
公 (おおやけ)official, governmental, formal
胸像 (きょうぞう)half-length portrait
別邸 (べってい)secondary residence, vacation home
滄浪閣 (そうろうかく)Sorokaku
発祥の地(はっしょうのち) origin, birthplace
民有地 (みんゆうち)private land
ご遠慮ください(ごえんりょください)please refrain (from)
国立国会図書館(こくりつこっかいとしょかん)National Diet Library
幕末(ばくまつ)Bakumatsu period
志士 (しし)imperial loyalist samurai of the Bakumatsu-era
宮内大臣(くないだいじん)Minister of the Imperial Household
歴任 (れきにん)successive/consecutive jobs
政治家(せいじかん)politician, statesman
田中光顕(たんか・むつあき)Tanaka Mitsuaki
文学館(ぶんがくかん)literary museum
白秋(はくしゅう)Hakushu (see below)
童謡(どうよう)nursery rhyme
構える(かまえる)to build, set up
棟(とう)counter for buildings
有料(ゆうりょう)fee-charging
公開(こうかい)open to the public
有形文化財(ゆうけいぶんかざい)tangible cultural properties
多摩市(たまし)Tama City
三井物産(みついぶっさん)Mitsuri & Co.
設立(せつりん)establishment, foundation
財界(ざいかい)financial world, business circles
茶人(ちゃじん)master of the tea ceremony
益田孝(ますだ・たかし)Masuda Takashi
鈍翁(どんのう)Donnou, an alias he took on as a tea master
西海子(さいかいし)Saikaishi
茶器(ちゃき)tea utensils
ゆかりconnection (to a person, place, or thing)
品々(しなじな)various articles
展示(てんじ)exhibition, display
秋山真之(あきやま・さねゆき)Akiyama Saneyuki
海運業(かいうんぎょう)shipping industry, marine transport
財閥(ざいばつ)zaibatsu, financial conglomerate
築く(きずぐ)to build up, establish
実業家(じつぎょうか)business, entrepreneur
山下亀三郎(やました・かめさぶろう)Yamashita Kamesaburo
対潮閣(たいちょうかく)Taichokaku
終焉(しゅうえん)end (of life), death; (peacefully) spending one’s final years
彫る (ほる)to carve, engrave
釣鐘石 (つりがねいし)Tsurigane-ishi (Hanging Bell-shaped Rock)
代目(だいめ)nth generation
貴族院(きぞくいん)House of Peers (Meiji constitution)
副議長(ふくぎちょう)vice-chairman
黒田長成(くろだ・ながしげ)Kuroda Nagashige
数奇屋(すきや)tea-ceremony arbor
めぐり tour
教育委員会(きょういくいいんかい)board of education
日露戦争(にちろせんそう)Russo-Japanese War
における in, at, on, regarding
仁川沖海戦(じんせんおきかいせん)Battle of Chemulpo Bay (Feb. 9, 1904)
仁川(インチョン)Incheon
活躍(かつやく)activity, great efforts, active participation
司令官(しれいかん)commanding officer, general
瓜生外吉(うりう・そときち)Uryu Sotokichi
海軍大将(かいぐんたいしょう)admiral
之(の)of
山角天神社(やむかくてんじんじゃ)Yamakakuten Shrine
境内(けいだい)grounds (esp. of temples and shrines)
坂(さか)milestone; slope, hill
高台(たかだい)high ground, hill
坂道(さかみち)hill road
創作(そうさく)creative work
国民的(こくみんてき)popular on a national level
北原白秋(きたはら・はくしゅう)Kitahara Hakushuu
木兎(つく)horned owl (rarely used kanji form)
伝肇寺(でんじょうじ)Denjo-ji Temple
皇族(こうぞく)imperial family
陸軍(りくぐん)army
軍人(ぐんじん)soldier
激動(げきどう)turmoil, upheaval
参謀総長(さんぽうそうちょう)chief of general staff
閑院宮載仁親王(かんいんのみやことひとしんのう)Prince Kan’in Kotohito
外郭(がいかく)outer fence, outer enclosure
土塁(どるい)earthen walls
広大(こうだい)immense, huge, grand
敷地(しきち)site, plot, grounds
史跡(しせき)historic site