Located in a mountainous and nature-rich region of Shizuoka, Japan, the Pergola House was designed by Takayuki Kuzushima and Associates with the simple goal of merging into the environment. 

The client’s building site consisted of a main house that underwent minor improvements. There were also a series of ill-placed shacks that needed to be replaced. The shacks sat along the edge of the cliff, so the client and the architects removed them in favor of a redesigned functional and eye-catching pergola, work and storage area. 

Related: Old fisherman’s shack is reimagined as a dreamy eco retreat

Additionally, existing trees on the property heavily guided the shape and design of the project. With an emphasis on keeping the assortment of plum, sarsaparilla and maples in place, the roofline contoured around branches. The height was also adjusted to accommodate the trees. The architects paid special attention to the location of cross beams so they would not restrict the natural movement. In addition, the team protected the roots of the surrounding trees by relying on columns with independent foundation legs. The pergola-inspired louvered pattern of the rafters curves in response to the shape of the mountains, blending into nearby shrubs and other plants.

The owner uses the home as a weekend getaway, but hopes to eventually live there full time and run a farm on the land. In planning for this future, the new design leaves a maximum flat field space for growing food and housing livestock. The usable space is sectioned into five divided areas to accommodate farm equipment, a shaded seating area and a workspace. 

Moreover, the composition of the roof was influenced by these intended uses of the spaces. For example, the workshop features an elevated ceiling and the entrance is contoured as an invitation into the structure. 

The project incorporated many recycled materials from the existing shacks. Flooring materials were upcycled into walls that divide the spaces. Meanwhile, beams from columns and joists were dismantled and reused as benches. Even the roof tiles were repurposed as flooring at the entrance. 

Furthermore, to keep costs and waste at a minimum, this approach allowed the new structure to seamlessly blend into the landscape. 

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Located in a mountainous and nature-rich region of Shizuoka, Japan, the Pergola House was designed by Takayuki Kuzushima and Associates with the simple goal of merging into the environment.

Furthermore, to keep costs and waste at a minimum, this approach allowed the new structure to seamlessly blend into the landscape.