The PC House by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is a private single-storey house in eastern Japan. With strong roots in traditional Japanese temples, the program is arranged in a windmill formation, with four distinct and independent rooms originating from the center point of the design. As in traditional Japanese architecture, the natural environment is strongly associated with the dwelling through an encircled garden.
PC House by Kengo Kuma Technical Information
- Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates | Kengo Kuma Bibliography & Profile
- Typology: Residential Projects /Private Residences
- Location: East Japan
- Material: Bamboo
- Area: 195 sq.m. | 2,100 sq. ft.
- Project year: 2013
- Photographs: © Mitsumasa Fujitsuka
It is my mission to use the kindness and delicateness that old architecture had. I believe that this mission is not easy to complete. So I am planning to work until I fall down.
– Kengo Kuma Architects 1
Article from Kengo Kuma Architects
Design and Materiality: A Contemporary Interpretation
A defining feature of the house is its seamless connection to nature. The design incorporates an enclosed garden, a hallmark of Japanese architecture, which fosters a harmonious relationship between the interior and the natural surroundings. This way, PC House becomes a tranquil sanctuary, where architecture and environment coalesce into a living, breathing entity.
PC House is characterized by its thoughtful and varied use of materials. Each of the four rooms is distinguished by its own material finish, emphasizing the space’s tactile and sensory qualities. This choice of materials creates clear boundaries between the distinct volumes, while the variation in texture and finish brings richness and depth to the design. Large sliding glass doors further dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, flooding the rooms with natural light and offering unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape.
The house’s challenging location atop a cliff necessitated the use of lightweight construction techniques and pre-cast concrete components to ensure structural stability without compromising the aesthetic integrity of the design. Kuma’s attention to materiality is not just visual but also experiential. Each material was selected to enhance the occupants’ interaction with the space, promoting a deeper connection to the architecture and the natural world.
Kengo Kuma’s Philosophy: Redefining Architecture
Kengo Kuma’s architectural philosophy revolves around “erasing architecture”—creating transparent, subtle, and integrated spaces. Throughout his career, Kuma has sought to dissolve architecture’s formality, making it nearly invisible and allowing the natural environment to take center stage. His early work (1986-1991) explored themes of collage, layering, and chaotic assembly, but in his later works, including PC House, Kuma embraced a more refined approach. The goal is to create spaces where architecture does not dominate but fades into the background, allowing nature and the lived experience to become the focus.
This principle is embodied in PC House, where each design element is deliberately chosen to emphasize simplicity and fluidity. The resulting spaces invite calm, reflection, and connection to nature, embodying Kuma’s architectural vision as a humble, transparent presence.
PC House from Kengo Kuma Architects Plans
About Kengo Kuma
Kengo Kuma is a celebrated Japanese architect known for his delicate, nature-integrated designs that seek to “erase architecture” by harmonizing built form with its environment. His work blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary techniques, often using natural materials like wood and bamboo to create light, transparent, and human-centered spaces. Kuma’s architecture emphasizes softness, humility, and a deep respect for place.
Additional Credits
- Kuma, Kengo. Anti-Object: The Dissolution and Disintegration of Architecture, AA Publications, 2008.
- Kuma, Kengo. Small Architecture/Natural Architecture, 2008.
