SPACE July 2025 (No. 692)
interview Kawaguchi Hiroto principal, 1110 Office for Architecture × Youn Yaelim
Youn Yaelim (Youn): This project is about a rental house built on the shores of Awaji Island for dogs and humans. For whom and for what purpose did the client commission this project?
Kawaguchi Hiroto (Kawaguchi): The client envisioned a rental villa where dog lovers could spend a slow, nature-filled time together with their dogs. They imagined a space in which both humans and dogs could coexist comfortably and freely. Their focus was not only on comfort and functionality, but also on creating an experience capable of reflecting the energy of the site itself—offering something truly unique to this location.
Youn: Recently, Awaji Island has undergone radical changes due to late urbanisation. What kind of landscape characteristics does the island now have?
Kawaguchi: Awaji Island is currently undergoing a period of transition marked by rapid, tourism-led development. In particular, the northern part of the island – where this project is located – has seen an influx of theme park-like facilities. Quiet rural villages are becoming increasingly commercialised. The seafront landscape in front of the site is still untouched, but its future remains uncertain, as new developments are often inserted without regard for the surrounding context.
Youn: What is your opinion as an architect regarding these changes, and how did you approach the project in response to this situation?
Kawaguchi: As an architect, I see both opportunity and risk. While such development brings economic opportunities, it also risks disrupting the delicate balance of the island’s rural identity and ecological qualities. We must be careful not to overwrite or erase the existing context with exclusive or insensitive solutions. I believe architecture should mediate between preservation and change—gently accepting transformation while subtly maintaining the essence of place. Necklace Vill...
1110 Office for Architecture
Henrard Antonin, Shimamura Kenta
Hyogo, Japan
accommodation facility
607.81m²
172.24m²
185.49m²
2F
5
6.93m
28.34%
30.51%
timber structure
galvalume steel sheet, cedar plank
cork flooring, laminated veneer panel, paint
Nen Architecture
1110 Office for Architecture
Re-sou
June 2023 – Jan. 2024
Feb. – Sep. 2024
Fukuda Unso
1110 Office for Architecture