Japanese studio Ushijima Architects works on a new small wooden house that is found in Shiga Prefecture with living spaces that rest on top of a concrete base foundation. This is elevated and built to mitigate the risk of flooding in the area as it is located by Biwa-ko, the largest freshwater lake in Japan. It boasts the name ‘U-House’ and sits over a former wetland that was previously used for rice growth.
Founder Takahiro Ushijima explains that “[The area] has been attacked by floods time and again after being buried, but the memory of this is forgotten because the technology of flood control has been improved and a lot of new residences have been built […] We can’t anticipate the future of this site, so I designed this house being conscious of two elements: flood and reeds.”
Image Credit: Ushijima Architects
