20/12/2012 – Kengo Kuma presented a “house of the future,” an experimental dwelling called Même , a prototype intended as the forerunner of a shift in mentality that is already under way. Japan was deeply wounded by past tragedies, but it has also turned itself into a laboratory for exploring new possibilities in contemporary architecture. This was also the theme of the Japanese pavilion, House for All, which received a distinction at the recently completed Biennale. In this context, Japanese architect Kengo Kuma created a “house of the future” in Hokkaido. The name seems to suggest that the house of the future may remain fundamentally the same while being completely transformed by technology, philosophy and use. In the Même project, a country house typical of this Japanese region is built with innovative materials: a Japanese larch wooden frame is completely covered by membranes, with fluorocarbon polyester on the exterior and glass fiber inside. Between the two membranes, insulation made from recycled PET bottles lets in light. This composition is based on the idea that convection inside the wall can help maintain a comfortable environment and save energy, especially when combined with a geothermal system. Another aspect of the dazzling exterior is the desire for a life filled with natural light, as if lying on a lawn in the middle of the day. Following the principle that the best green energy is the energy not consumed, the house has no conventional lighting. The approach is provocative, raises more than a few questions and invites us to rethink how we live in rhythm with nature.
Peter Dark
