Emulating the experience of walking through a heavily forested expanse, IGArchitects from Saitama, Japan, designed a contemporary residence that is illuminated with diffused natural light and encompasses nooks carved out for solitary experiences. The residence, referred to as the Forest of Pillars by the architects, is located in Fukushima. When asked about the inspiration behind the two-family house, the Japanese architecture studio shares, “Animals spend their time in the forest, finding their comfortable places depending on the time of day. Some are in the warmth of the sun, others in the shade of trees, and so on. With such a rich forest in mind, we designed a residence that mimics verdant regions.”

IGArchitects, founded and headed by Masato Igarashi, was named so after the Japanese architect’s last name. The Japanese architectural firm operates intending to create spaces and architecture that are flexible and versatile and can easily re-accommodate new functions and users, beyond their designated first usage and clients. One can trace such an intent in the residential design of Forest of Pillars, as well. The private residence, with its partially open plan and mezzanine floors, appears to bear the potential of hosting spaces that can just as easily house a cosy cafe, an artist’s studio or a carpenter’s workshop, amongst other facilities.

The experience designed for users within Forest of Pillars can easily be recreated a short distance from the residential building, in the forest located behind the structure. While the forest, shaded by tree canopies, welcomes individuals to wander around its rooted trunks, the two-family house, standing on a flag-pole plot, bears a flat roof, with high clerestory windows welcoming diffused sunlight in. The structure is also placed in close proximity to a mountain on its rear end, while the other sides are surrounded by houses.

The residential architecture of Forest of Pillars was orchestrated by IGArchitects in response to the client’s desire for a one-storey house with generous space. The client wanted the residence to host space for two different families and have ample privacy from the households in the vicinity as well as from each other. By integrating an open plan, the architects ensured that the interior space, although humbly sized, did not seem encumbering for its users. The clerestory windows, placed on the upper edge of the wall, easily transmit natural light into the residence, while also ensuring privacy from the surrounding areas. This arrangement makes it seem as if the roof is levitating. Taking advantage of the closely situated forest and mountain, the architects designed the building in a boomerang formation along the back hill and opened up fenestrations on the northern face to usher greenery in.

Although largely open-planned, some private functions are enclosed separately. Amongst these are the toilets, bathrooms and bedrooms. “The water area is designed to be consolidated as much as possible and housed in a box,” Igarashi mentions. These enclosed boxes, along with the narrow pillars dotting the entire expanse, help create depth in the otherwise park-like open space.

The pillars within the residence are closely placed at a uniform distance of 1.8 metres from each other and a height of 3.5 metres. Their proximal distance from each other, along with their size—with 90-millimetre edges—make their density appear close to furniture items. The slender columns, sculpted out of local Fukushima lumber, are installed following the general rules of wooden architecture. “The number and density of the pillars and the high scale of 3.5 metres provides a continuous atmosphere with the greenery outside, creating an artificial forest that feels almost like a natural forest,” the studio mentions.

One of the two residential spaces houses an enlarged living area, with an open kitchen, mezzanine lounging areas and nooks for reading and leisure activities. The other one, on the other hand, encompasses three main zones—kitchen, living area and bedroom—adeptly separated from each other. On being asked how long the building is made to last, Igarashi simply shares, “Buildings are like human bodies. Maintenance is necessary to make them last, and we design them to be enjoyable to age and maintain.” IGArchitects intends to create more such generous, versatile and long-lasting spaces in the future, on a scale more expansive than that of a residence.

Project Details

Name: Forest of Pillars
Location: Fukushima, Japan
Area: 115.23 metres
Year of completion: 2023
Architect: IGArchitects
Main Architect: Masato Igarashi
Engineering: Structure: Yousuke Misaki EQSD
Construction: Hakaru Komori Komori Construction company