Blink and You Might Miss This Super Skinny Japanese Home on Stilts

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Project Details:

Location: Saitama, Japan

Architect: ICADA

Footprint: 1,216 square feet

Builder: Sakaki Juken

Structural Engineer: Graph Studio

Landscape Design: Murata Engei

Energetic Consultant: Studio Nora

Timber Procurement: Anai Wood Factory

Photographer: Nobutada Omote

From the Architect: "Live Sawn House confronts a paradox in contemporary Japanese forestry: thick, high-quality sugi (Japanese cedar) logs are valued less than thinner ones. This inversion stems from postwar reforestation policies and the decline of sawmills capable of processing large timber, leaving mature cultivated trees underutilized. Forestry workers lament that decades of growth are sold cheaply and cut into standardized pieces. Rejecting this logic, the project embraces an alternative: showcasing thick logs in their raw, expressive form using dara-biki (live sawing), a traditional method that reveals each tree’s unique character while maximizing yield and structural integrity.

"This two-story residence occupies an irregular urban site with a winding alley. Built on a modest budget, it integrates design with material sourcing. The building system is straightforward and legible: 105 millimeter planks are used for corner and wind-exposed columns, while 70 millimeter planks serve lighter loads; beams are consistently 105 millimeter thick. Boards retain natural edges and occasional bark, enriching visual texture while minimizing waste. Timber is oriented along the grain, ensuring high bending strength without industrial processing.

"In a dense residential district outside Saitama, the largest city in one of Tokyo’s neighboring prefectures, the building appears from the street only in fragments: a slender box raised on rhythmic timber posts. The ground floor contains the dining kitchen, while living and sleeping areas occupy the upper floor. A suspended walk-in closet—skywalk-in-closet—extends over the alley, culminating in a study nook. Below, timber pilotis allude to the wooden interior structure. The children’s space features movable shelves for adaptability. By embracing the overlooked potential of thick sugi logs, Live Sawn House proposes a sustainable, site-specific architecture grounded in material honesty, craftsmanship, and respect for local forestry traditions."