This project redevelops the Hiyoshidai Social Housing Complex, originally built in the 1970s on a south-facing slope overlooking Fukuyama. 

 

The existing estate, composed of about twenty five-story apartment blocks arranged in a uniform grid, no longer meets the needs of contemporary living. With outdated facilities, limited accessibility, and unit layouts that fail to reflect today’s diverse family structures, the complex is undergoing a full redevelopment. The design called for utilizing the existing terraced landform, consolidating five buildings into no more than three, and planning ninety residential units ranging from 1DK to 4DK.

 

Our proposal places courtyard-style buildings that straddle the existing level differences, creating a large central open space that draws the surrounding natural environment into the entire housing. The buildings step sectionally from two to five stories, gently following the slope of the land, allowing residents to move barrier-free throughout the complex. A large central courtyard ties together the different levels, drawing light, wind, and greenery into the shared heart of the community. The open configuration anticipates future phases of renewal, allowing the housing to adapt and expand over time. Each dwelling features a shallow plan and wide frontage for bright, open living spaces. Semi-outdoor side-verandas extend the rooms toward shared exterior spaces, creating a soft transition between private and communal life. By mixing various unit types within each building, the design encourages diverse households to coexist and interact naturally.

 

Through this porous and terraced configuration, the new Hiyoshidai Housing grows with its community—an architecture that breathes with the city and lives in harmony with its landscape.

Location：Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima, Japan／Program：Social housing／

Site area：6674.30m2／Building area：2000m2／Total floor area：4900m2／Structure・Scale：Reinforced concrete, 5F