Kengo Kuma's new work|Paris "Valley" apartment

The main façade facing the street uses its folds to reproduce the effect of a mountain peak and a valley relief: every section of wood is exposed to sunlight. The main façade breaks the linearity and enlivens the street. A special kind of shock makes the building unique.

Thanks to Kengo Kuma for sharing your share with Gooood

Yama Tani is a small wooden residential project located in the northeastern region of Paris. Unlike the high-rise buildings around the area, the buildings on this street are mainly two- or three- to five-storey. Therefore, the architect wanted to recreate a scale that resembles a person in a village and introduce nature into the building.

▲项目概览 ©︎Sergio Grazia

▲建筑立面 ©︎Sergio Grazia

▲建筑立面细部 ©︎Sergio Grazia

The design strategy included the possibility of providing a large space in a limited volume: the southeast corner of the building is open through a stepped structure, allowing maximum sunlight to flow into the center of the building. In addition, most of the apartments have facades connected to the facades, and all apartments have outdoor spaces such as balconies, cabins, terraces, and rooftops.

▲公寓入口 ©︎Sergio Grazia

The apartments offer flexibility between outdoor and indoor via exterior corridors. The airiness and softness of the space are calming, more connected to the seasons and weather, and comfortable. As such, each apartment has direct access to the outside. The backyard garden has nature as the central element. It can be seen from the street, like a gentle call, making the view more transparent.

▲外部走廊 ©︎Sergio Grazia

The warm qualities of the wood bring a soft touch. The inertia of this material gives a clear feeling of comfort, different acoustics, attractive resistance to heat pressure and a high-quality home atmosphere. The kind of timber was chosen according to the intended design: the main façade of the street was made of pre-aging chestnut wood, which was hard enough to achieve a precise pleated joint; The courtyard façade is made of smooth cedar wood, which will naturally turn silver over time.

▲木材的温暖特质 ©︎Sergio Grazia

▲主立面室内视角 ©︎Sergio Grazia

Project drawings

Project name: Yama-TaniDesigning Period: 2018 – 2020Construction Period: 2020 – 2023Location: Paris, France EuropePrincipal uses: HousingTotal floor area: 500 m2Stories: 3 floors + duplex (last floor) + rooftopBudget: NCLead design Architect: KKAA – Kengo Kuma & AssociatesKengo Kuma, Chizuko Kawarada, Charlotte Brussieux,Marika Maione*, Mathieu Faliu*, Maria Cervantes*, Michael Albric* (*former staff)Client : REI HabitatEngineering: EQO engineering, S2T fluids, AÏDA acousticConstruction site management: EQO engineeringConstruction company: Rubner, RehagoPhoto © Sergio Grazia