Notable Features |
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Integrated
design with natural landscape |
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60
degree sloping site |
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Collective
housing concept |
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Grid
system framework |
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Modular
standardization |
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Prefabrication |
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Construction
waste minimization |
Basic
Information |
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Location:
Kobe, Japan |
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Structure
: Reinforced Concrete |
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Building Type: 9-Storey Low-rise Housing |
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Completion:
Phase I: 1978-83
Phase II: 1985-93
Phase III: 1991-98 |
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Architect: Tando
Ando |
Overview |
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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. |
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Aerial View:
Phase I & II
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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. |
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Designed
along the topography: Phase I |
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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. |
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Public
central plaza to encourage encountering |
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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. |
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A room
asserts its own individuality
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Modular
Standardization |
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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. |
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Construction
Sequence showing cut and fill: Phase I |
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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. |
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Openness
achieved while privacy maintained |
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Individual
space facing internal court |
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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. |
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Prefabrication |
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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.
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Conclusion
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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.
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Reference
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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. |
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All images are
cited from JA Library 3.
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