A project of Yuka Hayashi and Rob Oudendijk

It all began long ago with the realization that as a society, we must construct homes that endure over time and shield us from natural forces that can pose a threat, such as floods and earthquakes. This endeavor is still ongoing.

The goal is to create a residence that remains intact for an extended period and resists decay. It should be buoyant enough to stay afloat during floods and designed to shift smoothly during an earthquake. The setup must operate independently regarding power, water, and sewage systems. While the current design accomplishes all these aims, there is still much “tweaking” needed.

Electricity is generated by a small hydro system (260 watts operating 24 hours), while water comes directly from a nearby river, which is filtered and thoroughly tested. The house is insulated with 10 cm of XPS. No wood or steel is used for structural support internally. Human waste is managed using a sawdust system, which collects waste and allows it to decompose for three years before being transformed into soil to nourish the land.

Address: 〒633-1302 奈良県宇陀郡御杖村菅野616 / 616 Sugano, Mitsue-Village, Uda District, Nara, 633-1302 Japan