tamotsu ito architecture office An agricultural base with outside playing fields where young strawberry farmers can raise their children while selling their products directly. With a limited budget, the design began by reusing structural pipes from a vinyl greenhouse that were scheduled to be discarded. Utilizing the curves of the pipes, we created a wavy roof covering both the workshop and the shop. By adjusting the height and overlap of the arches, a three-dimensional surface was formed, channeling rainwater to the west side. During construction, we secured leftover materials such as dead stock concrete blocks, CLT/LVL scraps, and a sink, making adjustments to the structure and details each time. The challenge of obtaining a residential building permit under Japanese regulations was resolved by treating the entire structure as timber, the block walls as foundation, and the pipes as non-building elements. To reduce costs, the client and acquaintances participated in construction, where prior experience with vinyl house construction and DIY skills played an essential role in building the joints.
This project combined surplus materials with globally available commodities, reinterpreting and reconstructing them, while cultivating the skills of local people and realizing community-based architecture. It demonstrates how small architecture, tied to everyday life, can create a unique landscape and bring new perspectives into the familiar suburban setting. At the same time, it renews our perception of what architectural design can mean for both society and landscape.

tamotsu ito architecture office