I House Residence

I House Residence

i House Residence is an innovative architectural project completed in 2015 in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, that exemplifies sustainable living through passive heating design and traditional Japanese architectural elements. This groundbreaking residential structure, designed by Yoshihiro Matsuura, uniquely combines a traditional Japanese doma (entrance space) with contemporary passive house principles, eliminating the need for conventional heating systems. The design emerged as a response to the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, embodying resilience and sustainable living practices. The structure features a sophisticated thermal design with 340mm thick walls for superior insulation, achieving a remarkable Q-Value of 0.49, which enables the interior to maintain comfortable temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius even during harsh winters when external temperatures drop to -20 degrees. The residence incorporates traditional Japanese architectural elements such as endai (benches), irori (inner fireplace), and ofuro (wooden bathtub), seamlessly integrating cultural heritage with modern sustainability principles. The house's innovative design, which earned a Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, demonstrates exceptional thermal efficiency by utilizing natural sunlight and body heat for temperature regulation. This architectural achievement particularly stands out for its thoughtful response to regional challenges, combining cultural sensitivity with environmental consciousness, while providing a model for sustainable residential architecture in extreme climate conditions.

sustainable architecture, passive house design, Japanese traditional elements, thermal efficiency, earthquake-responsive architecture, cultural preservation

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'I House Residence.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=443656 (Accessed on April 23, 2025)"