Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban
This timber house in Kanagawa by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has a square plan with a teardrop-shaped courtyard at its centre (+ slideshow).
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_7.jpg)
Shigeru Ban planned the single-storey Villa at Sengokubara with a radial arrangement, creating a sequence of rooms that each face inwards towards the central courtyard.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_20.jpg)
The roof of the house angles gently inward, creating a canopy around the perimeter of the courtyard, and it varies in height to create lower ceilings at the building's entrance.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_6.jpg)
Timber columns and roof joists are exposed inside the building, and line the ceilings and rear walls of every room.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_17.jpg)
Spaced wooden slats form partitions and doorways between some rooms, allowing views between spaces.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_16.jpg)
A wooden staircase leads to a mezzanine level beneath the highest section of the room, which looks out over the main living and dining room.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_14.jpg)
Two study rooms are tucked away behind, while the kitchen and main bedrooms are positioned just beyond.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_21.jpg)
A sheltered terrace separates this side of the house from a guest suite containing two bedrooms and a bathroom.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_15.jpg)
Here's a short description from the architects:
Sengokubara S Residence
The 2‐storey wood structure residence is situated on a flag pole shaped site, 30m square in plan with a 15m diameter interior courtyard.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_5.jpg)
With the main living room centred on the interior courtyard, all spaces are arranged in a radial manner from the entrance.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_8.jpg)
The eight sliding doors separating the main living room and interior courtyard can be opened at any time so that the space can be used as one.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_4.jpg)
The structure is made up of wooden columns and beams, which are 75mm x 350mm L‐shaped pieces, also arranged in a radial manner, creating a large one way sloped roof.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_1.jpg)
The large roof varies in height, achieving ceiling heights between 2.4m to 7.5m.
![Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_22.jpg)
Location: Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan
Architects: Shigeru Ban Architects
Project Team: Shigeru Ban, Nobutaka Hiraga, Wataru Sakaki, Jun Matsumori
Structural engineers: Hoshino Structural Engineering
General contractors Hakone Construction
Principal use: residence
Site area: 1770.00m2
Building area: 576.89m2
Total floor area: 452.60m2
Structure: timber
Number of storeys: 2
![Site plan of Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_23.gif)
![Floor plan of Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_24.gif)
![Elevation of Villa at Sengokubara by Shigeru Ban](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/10/Villa-at-Sengokubara-by-Shigeru-Ban_dezeen_25.gif)