The Solid Cedar House, designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, draws inspiration from the minimalist principles of acclaimed modernist architect Mies Van Der Rohe. Constructed primarily from robust cedar, this architectural piece emphasizes simplicity and structural clarity, hallmarks of van der Rohe’s influence. Ban’s design incorporates sustainable materials and innovative construction techniques, reflecting his commitment to environmentally responsible architecture. Solid cedar ensures durability and adds a warm, natural aesthetic that complements the structure’s modern lines.
Solid Cedar House Technical Information
- Architects: Shigeru Ban
- Typology: Residencial Projects / Private Residences
- Location: Kobuchizawa, Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan
- Completion: 2015
- Material: Solid Cedar
- Evocative topics: Japanese Houses, Infinite planes, Wood, Open House
- Photographs: © Hiroyuki Hirai / © Courtesy of Shigeru Ban
Designing a house is far more difficult than making an art museum or an office building.
– Shigeru Ban1
Solid Cedar House Photographs
The Solid Cedar House
Over the past years, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has conceived several design concepts based on the work of acclaimed modernist architect Mies Van Der Rohe. “Solid cedar house” is located in the Japanese prefecture of Yamanashi and is also part of these ongoing studies. Mies used concrete and brick structure walls to connect the space sequences from the interior space to the landscape. Similarly, the wall and the slab in this work (ceiling, roof) cut a wide variety of scenery in every room.
As the name suggests, the ‘Solid Cedar House’ has been constructed using locally sourced wood. Vertical and horizontal planes create a series of carefully configured living spaces. The walls in this house frame the scenery and play an essential role in ensuring a sense of seclusion and privacy, hiding the neighboring houses and the roads. The most intimate areas of the house are found at the center of the single-story plan.
Designing a house is far more difficult than making an art museum or an office building. With a house you have one particular client whose lifestyle it has to suit. With an office you are dealing with generalities.
So, when architects get famous they tend to stop doing residential projects. There is no money in them, they are difficult and the responsibility is large.
But the kinds of architects I respect — people like Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe or Alvar Aalto — continued to make houses their entire lives. It was in their houses that they did their experimentation.
– Shigeru Ban1
Solid Cedar House Plans
House Image Gallery
About Shigeru Ban
Shigeru Ban (1957) is a Japanese architect known for his innovative work with paper, mainly recycled cardboard tubes, which he used to house disaster victims quickly and efficiently. Time magazine profiled him in its projection of 21st-century innovators in the fields of architecture and design.
In 2014, Ban was named the 37th recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the most prestigious prize in modern architecture. The Jury cited Ban for his innovative use of material and his dedication to humanitarian efforts worldwide, calling him “a committed teacher who is not only a role model for the younger generations but also an inspiration.”
- Shigeru Ban for The Japan Times, 2013
