Zushi-Hayama etc.002

Positive Imitation

Often dismissed in architecture, imitation—when executed with technical sophistication—is no longer merely a substitute. This project embraces imitation across material and composition as a deliberate architectural theme. Located along Route 134 in a seaside villa district lined with houses mimicking styles from across time and place, the timber structure is composed of two layers: a faux-concrete "cliff" base and a flat-roofed upper volume that recalls steel construction. The LDK on the upper floor opens to panoramic views of Sagami Bay. Finishes such as resin decking and printed tiles are used intentionally, thematizing imitation across structure, assembly, and surface. The project simultaneously celebrates contemporary technological comfort and critiques the persistent ideal of architectural authenticity.

Program: Residential
Project Type: New build
Structural type: Timber structure
Site area: 130.35 sqm
Floor area: 153.56 sqm
Completion: February 2022
Design: Teitakusubako
Structure: Masaki Sugimoto Structural Office
Construction: Deguchi Tateguten
Photography: —