中山の家

内と外にひらく、三世代のための住まい

本計画は仙台市北西部の住宅街に建つ、三世代4人家族のための住宅である。旧宅は約180坪の敷地に広い庭を備えていたが、老朽化を機に建て替えを決意。維持管理の容易さを考慮し、敷地を二分割して一方を売却、残った敷地に新たな住まいを計画した。敷地面積が半減したことで、「プライバシーの確保」と「開放感の創出」という相反するテーマを一層高度に両立させる必要が生じた。

計画地は1960年代の高度成長期に開発された丘陵地のニュータウン内に位置し、東南方向に向かって段状に住宅が連なっている。北西側が道路に接道し、本来ならば東南側に仙台湾までの眺望を持つ立地だが、実際は周囲の住宅やアパートにより視界が限定されていた。そこで慎重に敷地の特性を読み解き、東南側の建物間にわずかな“抜け”を見出し、そこへ向けてテラスを設置。両側に袖壁を張り出すことで周囲の視線を遮りつつ、眺望を際立たせる構成とした。

一方、北西の道路側には窓を設けず塀で囲んだ中庭を配置。１階・２階にそれぞれテラスを設け、中庭を上下階にまたがる光と風の取り込み口とすることで、心地よい室内環境を形成している。

１階には各世帯の個室と水まわりを設け、玄関から連続するホールと階段を緩衝帯として、世帯間に適度な距離感を生み出した。眺望に恵まれた２階にはLDKと趣味室を配置。特に家族が集うリビング・ダイニングは、低めに設定した天井からテラス上部へメガホン状に広がる屋根により、自然と視線や意識が遠景へと抜けるよう計画されている。

三世代全員が成人していることから、住宅全体にゆったりとした静けさが求められ、内装は無垢材の床にグレーで統一した壁と天井を合わせ落ち着いた印象とした。趣味室に置かれたアントニン・レーモンド設計の貴重なピアノや、夫妻が蒐集したヴィンテージの家具・照明を引き立たせる背景として、洗練さと温もりが調和した空間を意識した。

プライバシーを保ちながら内と外へ大きくひらく設計手法により、相反する命題を調和させた本住宅が、世代を超えた安らぎの場として末永く住み継がれることを願っている。

Nakayama House

A Three-Generation Home That Opens Both Inward and Outward

This residence, located in a residential neighborhood in northwest Sendai, was designed for a three-generation family of four. The original home stood on a spacious 180-tsubo (approx. 595 m²) lot with a large garden, but had deteriorated over time, prompting the decision to rebuild. To facilitate easier maintenance, the site was divided into two lots, one of which was sold, with the new residence constructed on the remaining land. This reduction in land area heightened the need to carefully balance two inherently conflicting themes: ensuring privacy while creating a sense of openness.

The site lies within a hillside residential area developed as a new town in the high-growth period of the 1960s, characterized by houses cascading southeastward down the slope. Although the property, with road access on its northwest side, originally had the potential to offer distant views toward Sendai Bay to the southeast, sightlines were significantly limited by surrounding houses and apartments. A careful analysis of the site identified a narrow visual gap between the buildings facing southeast, prompting the placement of a terrace directed precisely toward this opening. Wing walls were extended on both sides to block sightlines from neighboring properties, enhancing the visual connection to the distant scenery.

Conversely, no windows were placed on the northwest side facing the street. Instead, a walled courtyard was created, accompanied by terraces on both the first and second floors. The courtyard acts as a channel, drawing natural light and fresh air into the interior spaces, creating a comfortable indoor environment.

The first floor accommodates individual bedrooms and service areas for each family unit, arranged around a hallway and stairwell that act as buffers, ensuring an appropriate distance between generations. The second floor, benefiting from better views, houses the primary living, dining, and kitchen spaces, along with a hobby room. In particular, the family gathering area features a deliberately low ceiling that expands upward toward the terrace in a megaphone-like shape, naturally directing occupants’ sight and consciousness outward toward the distant landscape.

Considering that all household members are adults, the entire residence was designed to evoke a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Interior finishes feature natural wood flooring and muted grey walls and ceilings, providing a subtle backdrop that highlights notable furnishings such as a rare piano designed by Antonin Raymond, as well as vintage furniture and lighting collected by the homeowners. This careful arrangement creates a refined yet warm aesthetic throughout the home.

Through a design strategy that preserves privacy while generously opening the home both inwardly and outwardly, this residence successfully reconciles conflicting objectives. It is our hope that the home continues to provide comfort and tranquility for the family across generations.