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A Wabi-Sabi Surf Shack Made from Humble Materials

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A Wabi-Sabi Surf Shack Made from Humble Materials

July 8, 2022

Commissioned to design a house for a young family—a couple who like to surf every morning before getting down to work—architect Takaya Tsuchida and his team at No. 555 made use of tarps, wood-cement insulation blocks, and other unexpected materials.

Set on an odd lot in a wind-whipped area a few miles from the beach in Chiba prefecture, part of greater Tokyo on Japan’s eastern Pacific coast, the structure is surrounded by neighbors and pedestrian traffic. To keep it private and isolated from the elements, No. 555 came up with Sabi, a hang-loose setup that revolves around an interior courtyard. The ruddy, weathered steel cladding on the exterior gives the project its name: Sabi means “rust” and also alludes to wabi-sabi, a celebration of natural beauty, imperfection, and, in this case, the surf life.

Photography by Koichi Torimura, courtesy of No. 555.

interior courtyard at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 5 17

Above: Custom PVC tarps with window-like openings partially shelter the courtyard from the elements. The couple have two young kids, and the space is used, among other things, as a play and laundry area.

sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555 architects. the tex 18

Above: The house is approximately 1,524 square feet and divided into two volumes: one for living, shown here, the other for sleeping, positioned on either side of the courtyard. The open-plan kitchen, dining, living wing features exposed wood beams and wood-fiber cement blocks, also known as wood wool and excelsior (and typically used as insulation), that add texture and pattern to the soaring space. “We chose it because it’s good for sound and insulation,” the architects tell us. “When a room is humid, the material absorbs humidity and when a room is dry, it discharges humidity.”

sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555 architects. the tex 19

Above: All-stainless components, including storage cabinets, lend the kitchen a cohesive look. They were sourced from Maruzen, a Japanese professional-use kitchen supply company. The industrial vibe is warmed by a floor of wide-board oak.

sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555 architects. the tex 20

Above: Sliding glass doors open the living area to the courtyard and bedroom wing. The wood wool and beams are whitewashed throughout.

sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555 architects. the tex 21

Above: A simple, industrial stair of steel and larch plywood leads to the open second floor.

the home office at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, by no. 555 architect 22

Above: The space is used as a home office.

the long, narrow industrial chic bathroom at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, j 23

Above: Located next to the kitchen, the family’s lone bathroom is long and narrow. A curtain cleverly divides the sink and toilet from the bathing area. The wide enameled-steel sink is a Toto design made for lab use. The bathtub is by Kaldewei; it’s an inset model that the architects chose to expose and support on steel legs. In lieu of tiling, the walls are constructed of waterproof FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) panels treated with a top coat of white paint.

It’s  a bit of a trek from the bedrooms to the bath, but “for a one-family house a single bath is customary in Japan,” the architects tell us.

the living area at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555  24

Above: The sofa and TV are tucked into into a corner off the entry hall.

plywood lined entry hall at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by 25

Above: The main entry is positioned at the back of the courtyard. It opens to a plywood-paneled hall with concrete flooring that links the two halves of the house.

lauan plywood paneled bedroom at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, design 26

Above: The architects also sheathed the bedrooms in plywood. They used clear-oil-finished lauan ply, which, they note, ranges in color “from whitish to reddish, creating a pattern that looks like patchwork.” The main bedroom, shown here, has a curtained closet, a “big box” of white-oil-finished larch ply sized to hold surfboards.

steel and larch plywood stairs and plywood paneling at sabi, a surfers' house i 27

Above: Steel and larch plywood stairs serve as a wet suit drying rack.

plywood paneled bedroom at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by  28

Above: The second bedroom (for now, the kids share their parents’ room).

patchwork paneling in a storage area at sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, 29

Above: Patched wood paneling patterns the upstairs storage area.

sabi, a surfers' house in chiba, japan, designed by no. 555 architects. the ext 30

Above: Here’s No. 555’s description of how they settled on steel cladding: “While brainstorming ways to use form and layout to guard the home from the elements, we also considered the durability of building materials. Our discussions led us to consider weathering steel as a shield against salt damage. However, fashioning a seamless structure from this material would have inflated the budget due to the cost of welding. As we thought about how to keep costs down and protect the building’s nonstructural elements, we reassessed building methods, ultimately arriving at a pragmatic approach. First, standard-size weathering steel sheets measuring 1,820 by 910 by 2.3 millimeters were split into lighter 1,820 by 303 millimeter sections, so that they could be transported by hand rather than with heavy machinery. Next, screws were used to attach the weathering steel to steel ventilation furring strips as siding, making it possible for carpenters to do the construction work. As a result, the screws and other secondary components were protected from rain and wind. Weathering steel cladding tends to create a heavy feeling, but in this case it lends the building delicacy.”

sabi beach house japan floor plan no.555 architects 17 31

Above: “Our unusual decision to situate the bedroom on the south side and the living/dining/kitchen zone to the north brought stable natural lighting into the living/dining/kitchen zone via the courtyard and ensured privacy for the residents,” say the architects.


sabi beach house japan schematic drawing no.555 architects 18 32

Above: A sectional drawing details the layers of construction materials.

No. 555 specializes in making artful use of raw materials. See more in our post, Rescued Relic: A Romantic Atelier in Japan.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the location of the beach house?

The beach house is located in Chiba, Japan.

What is the unique feature of the beach house design?

The design of the beach house emphasizes on its connection to nature and the sea by incorporating large windows and an open floor plan.

Is the beach house available for rent?

The article does not mention if the beach house is available for rent.

Who is the architect of the beach house?

The article does not mention the architect of the beach house.

What is the material used for the exterior of the beach house?

The beach house is clad in wooden siding.

What is the size of the beach house?

The article does not mention the exact size of the beach house.

Are there any sustainable features in the beach house design?

The article does not mention if there are any sustainable features in the beach house design.

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