Comprising twenty apartment units and a small office, the Housing in Sakuragicho project by Soeda Architecture Atelier is located alongside a winding highway in hilly terrain.
With a cliff supported by an existing 6-meter high concrete retaining wall and a lush sacred shrine forest behind, the site initially appeared to the architects as a narrow and dark leftover space. Potential however was found in the existing site condition by incorporating the retaining wall into the design and taking best advantage of the shrine forest by developing a series of apartment layouts that take advantage of their prospect.
Soeda Architecture Atelier developed a plan of apartment unit clusters along the wide frontal road, an apartment cluster between the cliff and the apartment cluster along the road, and a communal area with hexagonal concrete table and stools between the two clusters.
Also located between the two apartment clusters is a communal hallway. Open to the cliffside, the hallway provides residents views over the retaining wall to the garden and sacred shrine forest.
Inside, the apartment units offer a calm and quiet living environment with concrete walls, oak floors and serene views towards Yokohama’s commercial district.
