Architects: Hideo Kumaki Architect Office
Area: 130 m²
Year: 2012
Photography: Yukinori Okamura, Mayuko Ebina
Design Team: Hideo Kumaki(dir), Natsuko Mashimo
Structure Engineering: Ohno Japan
City: Saitama
Country: Japan
The Green Screen House, a residential building designed by Hideo Kumaki Architect Office in Saitama, Japan, incorporates an innovative green screen facade to provide thermal comfort and sun protection while enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. This green screen helps cool the interior by reducing the temperature difference between outside and inside by up to 10°C. Completed in 2012, the design honors the site’s legacy by incorporating a courtyard, preserving existing cherry trees, and revitalizing a rose garden once beloved by the local community.
A key feature of the Green Screen House design by Hideo Kumaki Architect Office is the green screen facade covering the front of the building. This facade serves as a natural sun protector for the interior spaces and creates a pleasant outdoor dining area between July and October. The green screen significantly reduces energy consumption by offering thermal comfort and reducing the need for air conditioning. Tests showed a temperature difference of up to 10°C between the exterior and interior of the screen. The cooling effect of the natural planting and breeze allows for a comfortable indoor environment. Additionally, the green screen visually connects the living and dining areas with the surrounding greenery, providing a tranquil view and a seamless transition to the terrace, where families can dine or enjoy activities with children. This passive system encourages environmental contribution and the creation of a harmonious space.
The site’s historical context played a significant role in shaping the design. Previously used as farmland by the client’s ancestors before the war, the site also featured a beloved rose garden maintained by the client’s mother. The client’s deep attachment to the land inspired the architects to incorporate a courtyard that preserved two existing cherry trees and revitalized the rose garden, allowing the local community to enjoy it once again.
Rather than completely redesigning the predecessor’s site, the architects sought to create a natural flow connecting the past and present. The garden, enclosed by a rose trellis facing the road, was carefully positioned with walls to direct the cool breeze from the southwest to the northeast. This allowed the healthy wind essential for plant growth to flow through the site, cooling the rooms when windows were opened. The green screen further enhanced the cooling effect by harnessing natural breezes.
By incorporating rounded corners and reducing strict boundaries between zones, the architects created a unified space that promotes a sense of connectedness among family members. The thoughtful arrangement allows them to be aware of each other’s presence while enjoying the beauty of nature inside and outside the home.
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Project Location
Address: Saitama, Japan
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
