Overview
The House in Yakami, a one-storey timber-framed residence situated in the rural town of Yakami within Japan's Shimane Prefecture, was designed by the Japanese studio Enter-Archi. The architectural design incorporates a distinctive broken-pitch roof. This roofing solution serves a dual purpose: maximizing mountain views from the residence and preventing snow accumulation on the structure.
Approach
Enter-Archi organized the House in Yakami into a configuration of three interconnected volumes. Courtyards were integrated between these volumes, contributing to the overall layout of the home. The design includes a covered parking space as part of the structure.
Findings
The design by Enter-Archi for the House in Yakami resulted in a timber-framed structure characterized by a specific roofing approach. The broken-pitch roof was implemented to achieve two identified functional outcomes: enhancing the available mountain views and mitigating snow build-up. The residential plan comprised three connected volumes, with courtyards separating these sections. An additional design feature observed was a covered parking area.
Why This Matters
The architectural approach implemented in the House in Yakami demonstrates a design solution that integrates specific environmental considerations. The broken-pitch roof's functional attributes address both aesthetic preferences (maximizing views) and practical challenges inherent to the location (snow management). This design illustrates a contextual response to a building site's specific geographical and climatic characteristics.