To the east lies the radiance of the Pacific Ocean;
to the west, the quietude of rolling hills.
Situated between mountain and sea, this land is called “Futami”—the twin seas.
For generations, people have lived here in dialogue with its intricate terrain, weaving their daily lives into the folds of the landscape.
Along the calm coastline and modest fishing harbor lingers the atmosphere of the Showa era, evoking a gentle nostalgia, as if awakening distant memories.
 
Seeking distance from the bustle of the city, the residents chose this place as their final home.
The house stands quietly on a hill embraced by the vast ocean and protective mountains, as though leaning softly into the land itself.
Most daily life unfolds on the first floor, while the second floor holds a small study and a tranquil retreat overlooking the deep blue horizon.
 
The first floor spreads horizontally along the garden and the earth, forming the center of everyday living.
Above, the study provides a place for stillness, where time can be spent in quiet companionship with the sea.
From the entrance extends an earthen-floored space—a doma—serving as the heart of the house, an open margin that connects spaces both vertically and horizontally.
Here, materials and light overlap, and the outlines of forms seem to dissolve into one another, creating a serene space of depth and subtle resonance.
Differences in scale and texture give the house a gentle rhythm, while an underlying order weaves them together, forming a quiet structural core.
 
To the east, facing the sea, an expansive open space reaches outward, inviting wind and light to flow freely within.
To the west, toward the mountains, the bedrooms are placed discreetly, offering a path that returns softly inward to rest.
The building does not merely sit beside the landscape; it seeks to breathe with the land, forming a small bridge between people and nature.
Here, daily life becomes part of the scenery, and the scenery in turn permeates daily life.
This house aspires to be a vessel that quietly records such rich and enduring memories.
 
We have named this home “The Azure Belvedere.”
 
Standing at the boundary between the blue sea and sky and the deep green mountains of this land,
it is a place to feel the changing light and wind of each passing day.
A place where the waves of the heart gradually grow calm.
At times gazing out over the sea,
at times looking inward across the latter half of life—
like a belvedere offering a clear and gentle prospect.
 
 
Located in Shimanto, Kochi
Completion : Apr. 2024
Use : Exclusive Occupation House
Structure : Wooden / 2 stories
Site Area : 990.00 sq m
Building Area : 185.85 sq m
Total Floor Area : 146.85 sq m
Photo : Kazunori Nomura