masato sekiya embeds a contemporary japanese fishing cabin into the tens riverbank in nara

masato sekiya has designed a contemporary interpretation of a traditional fishing cabin on the tens riverbank in nara, japan.

masato sekiya has designed a contemporary interpretation of a traditional fishing cabin on the tens riverbank in nara, japan. nestled in the omine mountains, tenkawa village is surrounded by beautiful natural elements. these surroundings and the river’s sharp edge, would prove to be of the highest importance and main influence for the architect’s final design. the site included 6 square meters of flat terrain before beginning a steep 17 meter incline towards the river.

preliminary concepts for the design experimented with building upwards, but masato sekiya realized early on that this vision would cause the natural scenery to inevitably suffer. ‘my solution was to dig down nearly to the bedrock and sink the building into the ground, then extend it out into the air over the river.’ sekiya explained, ‘the key to the structure is the creation of balance. it has a structure like a balance, installed on flat bedrock, with a ruffle concrete pillar as a fulcrum, and a mass of concrete to be a counterweight.’

the partitioned interior can be transformed to cater to the resident’s daily needs. the cantilevered deck, living room, and bedroom can be combined to a single, uninterrupted space — letting the natural light and green views travel throughout the length of the interior. from the road, the structure’s green roof and car park are the only elements of the home that are visible, allowing the living space below to remain open without jeopardizing one’s sense of personal privacy.