Parametric Fragment

Japanese practice T akashi Yamaguchi & Associates have completed 'parametric fragment', a single family residence in a rural area near the Ise Bay in Matsusaka, Japan. surrounded with stretches of green rice fields, the aluminum panel exterior of this residence reflects the changing lighting conditions as the land changes from the water bathed planting season to the golden hues of the autumnal harvesting season. Enclosed with a double skin, the south and west facades contain wide gaps and without window openings, allowing the summer's radiant heat to rise through the structure and exit near the roof. A fragmented pattern of louvers near the top of the perimeter wall arranges shorter and longer lengths of panels as determined by the internal room placements, flue window, ventilation and air conditioning outlets.

Subject to large amounts of rainfall and frequent flooding events, the dwelling's foundation has been raised upon a mound, planted with green grass to blend with the encompassing countryside. two varied volume sizes are placed askew, creating a horizontal and vertical void to mark the opposing entrances and introduce natural daylight down through the interior. The steel doors to the gravel terraces may be opened allowing the wind and frame views of the landscape to permeate the dwelling's dining area.

Soft light enters from a linear slit along the roofline producing an expressive atmosphere of changing light during the passage of time. The western wall displays segmented streams of light, amplifying the sense of fluidity and abstractness with the diverse fragments.

The structure consists of double skin system of the main frame and a surface of aluminum panels. To reduce the amount of radiant heat in summer, west and south sides are designed without openings and the width of space in the double skin of walls and roof on west and south are wider. This system controls the circulation of warm air so that it rises through the inside of double skin and extracted through louvers.

From living room to family space, soft light from a long slit of the roof engulfs the internal space. An expressive atmosphere is created by the changing of light intensity according to the change of sunlight and passage of time. An abstract external courtyard between aluminum panels can be viewed from family space.

A disproportionate amount of lighting is placed on interior walls on west. The lights appear as countless segmented streams, and by randomly fragmenting the light, the non-uniformity further amplified the sense of fluidity and abstractness in the space producing a space with an expressive dramatic feel.