This project consists of an additional building for the Yamanashi Nature Reserve located in Nagoya City. The existing structure is a two-story reinforced concrete building situated at the junction between the north slope and the road. The owner’s goal was to create an office and a small multi-purpose space to serve the faculty.
Given the challenging site with almost no flat ground, the architects had to carefully consider where to place the new small space. Ultimately, they chose to build an extension in the innermost corner, which is enclosed by existing buildings and retaining walls.
Since the new building is surrounded on three sides, the architects reconsidered conventional design methods by starting with the roof before erecting the walls. Creating a new surface between the retaining wall and the existing garden building proved to be an effective solution, with a clearly defined cabin atop this surface.
△ After renovation
Before the renovation
The ground no longer shows any building outlines. This innermost space has been enclosed and connected to the existing building, facing the playground.
The original dead end has been transformed into a central hub. A new eave was constructed to connect the retaining wall with the window frames of the existing building, giving the site a refreshed appearance to welcome visitors. The cabin above serves as a versatile small space. By linking the cabin to the upper slope, a three-dimensional connection is created within the overall site circulation.
The expansion section prominently features curved designs, maintaining harmony with the existing building’s architectural language. The building order has been reversed, turning the previous dead end into a dynamic central space. Though the extension occupies only 10 square meters, it effectively reorganizes the entire 1,000-plus square meter site.
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Detailed Drawing
△ Hand-drawn Structural Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Maki Yoshimura Architectural Planning Firm | MYAO
Area: 3,434.0 square meters
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: ToLoLo Studio
Architect: Yoshimura Maki Architectural Planning Firm | MYAO, Yoshimura Maki
Owner: Social Welfare Corporation
Structural Design: Takuo Nagai / Eureka
Contractor: Hakoya
Location: Japan
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