S-House

Structural Designer

Structured Environment

Client Name

Private

Location

Saitama Prefecture, Japan

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The S-House is a two storey private house in Omiya, Japan on a site just under 90m2. The floors are arranged as quartered area on either side of the central stair core. The interconnection of the floors at the core provides the principal lateral load resisting system for the building. This allows the corner columns to be designed for axial load only and kept to a minimum dimension (44.6mm in diameter). Perimeter box beams provide both horizontal stiffness to the floors and support the glass cladding.

Judge's comment:

The innovative and creative structural design has achieved a minimal steel frame that forms the main element of the architecture of the building. There are very few applied finishes so the details are a crucial part of the design and the engineer’s skill and care in developing appropriate solutions is evident in the finished building.