A House Living with a Cylindrical Water Divider
Credits
Company / Customer
SHO KATAOKA
IKU KATAOKA
Designer
Year
2026
Location
Kawasaki, Kanagawa (JP)
Disciplines
Architecture
Category
Residential
Award
Best of Best
Details
The Nikaryō Canal Kuji Cylindrical Water Divider, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, was built in 1941. Originally constructed to distribute water evenly to surrounding rice fields, it is now a beloved place to relax, its circular basin providing the gentle sound of flowing water. Facing the promenade, a brick-paved space opens to the street. Like an engawa, it connects town and everyday life. This building is a vessel for living in quiet dialogue with landscape and time.
The Jury‘s Statement
What once played a vital functional role in the cultivation of the region’s fields now serves solely as a place for people to meet and relax. Only the gentle sounds of the water in the centrally located circular pool serve as a reminder of what once was. Leading from the communal area into the interior of the house there is an engawa, a traditional covered wooden walkway found in Japanese architecture. In keeping with the exterior, the interior spaces are also designed to be rather understated: light colours, natural materials, and linear forms embody the Japanese art of interior design. Through the countless windows in the house, one can observe the city, the cherry trees, or even passers-by. In such moments, the architecture once again presents an invitation to slow down.
