MIZU NO IE -Izu Diving Retreat-
| Architect | Furuya Nobuaki+NASCA |
|---|---|
| Usage | pool・bathhouse・ hotel・ restaurant |
| Structure | RC+W |
| Size | 2F/1BF |
| Site area | 1,479.38㎡ |
| Area | 659.03㎡ |
| Completion | 2024.11 |
People are born naked, and they are clad in garments, houses, cities and nature. The site where untouched nature has been carefully preserved is located within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, in a corner of the Izu Highlands overlooking Mount Omuro. We aim to create a place where visitors can release their five sense and are clad in water, in the air of the site, in the surrounding greenery, in the climate of the land, so that mind and body are directly embraced by the environment.
To harmonize with the abundant natural setting of the national park, the Structure is composed of wood and concrete, materials with a strong affinity to nature. Despite site constraints̶including limited area and solid bedrock, we had to accommodate not only a 25-meter swimming pool but also a diving pool with a depth of 8 meters. By consolidating both pools on the second floor, we achieved an efficient layout while minimizing excavation caused by the diving pool. To support the 400 tons of water contained in the pools, the WRC structure is adopted from the foundation up to the second-floor. On the other hand, the roof is made of timber. RC colonnades are arranged along the 25-meter pool, and beams are spanned in the transverse direction such as a balancing toy “yajirobe”, thereby achieve a 25-meter large opening with column-free on the southern facade of the pool. The remaining exterior walls are clad in overlapping cedar boards with equally spaced gaps, and they function as an environmental device that admits light and wind while shielding views from outside. By the designing infinity edge on the side of the large opening with column-free, this pool draws in the surrounding untouched nature and successfully offers a swimming experience immersed in the forest.
Photos: Asakawa Satoshi