MDSKiyotoshi Mori + Natsuko Kawamura

A large cherry tree has been watching over the children's growth in the kindergarten yard at the rear of the site for many years, even decades. We started the project by placing a symbolic pillar in the center of the space to watch over the family's growth, as if facing the imposing cherry tree. The plan is simple and stable, with four walls around the 3.5 ken x 3.5 ken (6.37m x 6.37m) square plan, and a square roof over the walls. The roof is supported only by the four perimeter walls, and the thick trunk (pillar) placed in the center of the square has branches (beams) extending in all directions to support only small floors such as passageways, seating areas, and stairs, as well as large floors such as living rooms. The spiral layering of the space around its trunk, and its various expressions from various places in the space, make it the “main pillar” of the space of this house. At first glance, the structural expression of the wire material looks like a through structure, but the floor and the walls that ensure a minimum of privacy are used to maintain surface rigidity. The roof and walls are joined by horizontal slits that allow outside light to enter and rebound on the square ceiling surface, allowing light to pour down from above. The lower the floor, the darker and more subdued the space becomes.