The Three Roof
House for Ader Co.,Ltd
The traditional Okinawan house uses long eaves to stave off the subtropical heat. But deep eaves block natural light and darken the house. By dividing the roof into three parts, it ensured daylight from the north side and made it easier for air to pass through. The split roof secures the ceiling height suitable for each place and brings about change in the space. It is possible to protect a comfortable space with good ventilation while suppressing the strong sunlight of Okinawa. In addition, the space under the eaves that has been secured more than before can be used flexibly.
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The Three Roof by Masashi Nakamoto
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House by Masashi Nakamoto
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Masashi Nakamoto The Three Roof
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Masashi Nakamoto House
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Unique Properties
By dividing the roof into three parts, It ensured daylight from the north side and made it easier for air to pass through. The split roof secures the ceiling height suitable for each place and brings about change in the space. It has a 4.0 meters space under the eaves in a pillarless space, but it keeps the height of the eaves low. Therefore, it is possible to protect a comfortable space with good ventilation while suppressing the strong sunlight of Okinawa.
Tags
Architecture, Single houses, Flexible space, Roof, Japan, Okinawa,
Production Technology
Both X and Y directions of this building are planned with wall type reinforced concrete construction, and steel pipe posts are arranged at places requiring consideration for landscape. Because of the mixed structure, earthquake resistant walls are arranged without bias, and column heads and column legs of steel pipes are embedded to evaluate spring rigidity. As the cantilever span has a maximum of 5.0 m, the roof is uniformly planned with an extremely thick mat slab of 450 mm.
Design Challenge
In this area at least one third of the roof must be slope. The plan is based on a pitched roof from the traditional Okinawan house. The split roof allows natural light where not blocked by structures such as pillars and walls. It also maintains its own structure, and the roof looks like it’s floating.
Project Duration
Okinawa Japan. The basic design started in March 2019. Completion date is December 2021. The site is bordered by three roads and is elongated east west. The site is characterized by apartments and commercial facilities in the north, and a spacious landscape in the south.
Operation Flow
The purpose of this project was to make good use of the climate of Okinawa and provide comfortable living. There are many good hints in traditional architecture. Also it has construction techniques unique to the subtropical region so we have evolved them with modern construction technology to provide a more livable living space.
Research
Amahaji* is characterized by protection from the strong sunlight of Okinawa. It can be used for a variety of purposes, such as communicating with visitors, or sitting and looking outside. In addition, there is no wall between Amahaji and inside, and it is partitioned by fittings. In this project, the space is more than doubled compared to the traditional one.
Inspiration
The traditional okinawan house uses long eaves to stave off the subtropical heat. But it blocks natural light and darkens the house. In order to solve this problem, the roof was divided into three parts and the house was brightened by taking in natural light from between the roofs. There is also Amahaji which provides a flexible space under the eaves. The space under the eaves is called “Amahaji” in Okinawa.
Image Credits
All images photo by Mamiyasan
Project Overview
The Three Roof House has been a Silver winner in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Masashi Nakamoto was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work The Three Roof House.
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