Case Studies

 

Rokoo Housing Phrase I-III, Kobe, Japan

 
Notable Features
 
bullet Integrated design with natural landscape
bullet 60 degree sloping site
bullet Collective housing concept
bullet Grid system framework
bullet Modular standardization
bullet Prefabrication
bullet Construction waste minimization

Basic Information
 
bullet Location: Kobe, Japan
bullet Structure : Reinforced Concrete
bullet Building Type: 9-Storey Low-rise Housing
bullet Completion:  Phase I: 1978-83
                  Phase II: 1985-93
                  Phase III: 1991-98
bullet Architect: Tando Ando

Overview
 

Rokko Housing was a proposal on a 60 degree sloping southern-oriented site on the edge of the Rokko Mountains in the city of Kobe. The project overcame the difficulties of site constraints and brought the benefits of natural surroundings and fine vistas.

 

Aerial View: Phase I & II

 

Design Concept and Principles
 

Intermingling with nature, these dwellings opened the possibility of a new kind of collective housing - one that would awaken a sense of identification among its residents. 
 

Designed along the topography: Phase I
 
While emphasized on interaction and encountering, this collective housing was created with variegated relationship between public and private through the concept of alley spaces and public terraces where residents encounter. With the intention to create and reinforce a relationship between nature, public space and private space, a grid system is employed to control the overall structure. 
 

Public central plaza to encourage encountering
 
The daily life’s variety was encompassed through manipulations of the combination of units and interventions of exterior spaces. Each dwelling is intended to asserts its own individuality. Rooms close to the sky, rooms facing the greenery on the slope, rooms receiving the light of the inner court, yet all possessing individual vistas – a search of new form of communality.
 

A room asserts its own individuality

 

   
Modular Standardization
 

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the project at that time is that it is actually built "into" the landscape while stepping down along the slope. The attempt is to take advantage of natural site constraints, as oppose to the common practice of "erasing" the  whole terrain and natural features, or building over stilt structure as in many cases in Hong Kong. Such an attempt not only demonstrated the building design being integrated with the natural landscape, but also achieved a design variety. However, it is important to note the extensive cut and fill works involved. 
 

Construction Sequence showing cut and fill: Phase I

 
This aspect might not be an appreciable one in today’s practice, but the essence is to consider natural constraints as well as opportunities that might inform a different expression of architectural form, in which standardization and construction waste minimization do not need to be sacrificed. The aforementioned grid system applied to control the overall structure appears initially as a rigid structural framework in which all the units and required spaces are fitted into. The resultant living spaces however displays a wide variety of layouts and vistas. The character of each unit is highly different, for they are organized in stepped terraces where openness does not sacrifice privacy of individual units.
 

Openness achieved while privacy maintained
 

Individual space facing internal court

 

Public terraces act as punctuation along the building terrain. These kinds of varieties of layouts and vistas might not be achievable in the context of Hong Kong, but dedication of public terraces to encourage social interaction is an idea that worth considering. It not only contributes to the visual excitement of the overall building form, but also serves as an element of breaking the monolithic sense of high-rises.

Prefabrication
 

In Rokko III, another element is introduced – prefabrication. The architect is embarking on this project without any client commission at the time of 1991. Though certainly it can be said that prefab means to lower costs in group housing based on technical and economic rationale, the architect’s attempt is a far more socially related thinking. It is a logical choice given that Rokko III is a complex several times the size of II.

 

Conclusion
 

It is depicted in these series of housing projects that the rigid organizing grid system does not trade off the possible layout and vista varieties in modular building design. In addition, natural landscape and features shall be considered as an element that initiate design variety. One of the most critical challenges of today’s building construction practice is to achieve and maintain effective and efficient construction method while not sacrificing the most basic design aspect – one that aims to serve the inhabitants. In the Rokko Housing project, such a basic design aspect is illustrated in the intention of generating public encounters through alley spaces and public terraces.

 

Reference
 

Teramatsu, Yasuhiro ed. JA Library 3 Tadao Ando: Rokko Housing I, II, III. Japan: Japan Architect, 1993. 

"Rokko 2" Architectural Review 193 (Nov 1993): 50-55.
 

All images are cited from JA Library 3.

 

Low-Waste Buildings Technologies & Practices
Home