Kazunori Sakai (Atelier NODE (formerly SAKAI ARCHITECTS))

This off-grid house enables a family of four to live comfortably on Amami Island, responding to its severe climate of high humidity and limited sunshine without reliance on the power grid or mechanical air-conditioning. Under a large shared roof, dispersed volumes are arranged so that the spaces between them form intermediate zones extending into engawa and gardens, gently connecting interior and exterior, family and community, daily life and nature. Through a way of living based on minimal systems and small-scale cycles, the house moves beyond a private dwelling to become a place that nurtures culture and community.