Même Experimental House: A Luminous Reinterpretation of Japanese Earth and Grass Architecture

We are constantly dazzled by <a href="http://kkaa.co.jp">Kengo Kuma's</a> experimental forays to the edge of architecture, so when we learned that he had designed a new home in Hokkaido called Même – Experimental House, we knew to take note. This small and luminous dwelling is modeled after the vernacular Japanese Chise homes that are traditionally built with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/swirling-australian-earth-house-looks-like-a-green-crop-circle-from-above/">earth and grass</a>. But as can be expected, Kengo Kuma added a few of his own touches to make the home energetically independent of mechanical systems.

This gorgeous dwelling is Kengo Kuma's latest exploration to the edge of architecture

The home is modeled after traditional earth and grass architecture

Kengo Kuma framed the home in Japanese larch

The home is then wrapped in a polyester fluor-coated carbide

The interior wall is lined with a removable fiberglass material

Recycled PET is sandwiched between as insulation

Natural light permeates the entire envelope to ensure no mechanical lighting is required

The home is so thermally comfortable no heating is required - even in winter!

This special construction restores a natural rhythm to the occupants who work when the sun is up and rest when it sets