

EASTERN design office carves nature influenced holes out of villa saitan in japan

all images by koichi torimura



characterized by its nature-influenced façade, ‘villa saitan’ in kyoto by EASTERN design office is a collective housing composed of eleven units. resembling cut outs of leaves, a trunk, root and bulbs, the complexes have been completely hidden from the exterior, resulting in the structure looking like one single entity. constructed using concrete, the façade attributes to the play of light, producing interesting shadows and efficiently filters natural light into the windows arranged behind. totalling at an area of 16m x 19m, the project is a response to low cost collective house project based in a quiet but dense area.



the exterior is constructed using concrete

due to the form of the building itself being curved, there is a natural distortion where the holes are twisted- referencing the organic shape of nature. the entrance to the complex is also through one of the holes where an inner pathway connects and runs through the building to adjacent streets.



the entrance uses one of the holes carved out



a path goes through the building to the other street



close of the nature influenced façade



the holes provide sunlight to the arranged windows of the housing units



the holes are formed in shapes of leaves and bulbs



collective housing complex in japan