Angular Wooden Bihoro House in Japan Used as a Model For Ecological Housing

When dealing with the Japanese culture, there are many things that can get lost in translation (just ask Bill Murray), but lucky for us, the Bihoro House in Japan speaks for itself. Promoted by the country's Ministry of Environment as an example of good ecological housing, the triangular house by <a href="http://www.kihachi-hh.jp/">Hiroshi Horio Architects</a> is the one of the loveliest <a href="http://germican.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/photos-canal-city-is-an-eye-popping-japanese-mall-filled-with-hanging-gardens-and-cooling-pools-inhabitat-green-design-will-save-the-world/">Japanese designs we've featured on Inhabitat</a>. Apart from metal cladding on the outside of a common area that connects three triangle pieces, the home features a lot of (hopefully certified) timber that gives it a fresh, evergreen ambience even in the snowy winters.

This house by Hiroshi Horio Architects is a model of ecological house

That is promoted by Japan's Minister of Environment

It consists of three volumes

With an earth floor

The first storey is clad in black metal

But everything else consists of untreated timber

As an ecological house, this should be certified timber.

The home lies on an expansive plot

And has a vegetable garden outside

We agree that this is a model worth emulating.