Okinawa, once called the Ryukyu Kingdom, has been blessed with rich forest and ocean resources.

© Koichi Torimura

Architects: ISSHOArchitects

Location: Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Architect In Charge: JUN VERA

Mortex: Bath room Wall floor mortar

Miele: KM6200

Toto: Shower cock

Area: 57.15 m2

Project Year: 2017

Photographs: Koichi Torimura

© Koichi Torimura

From the architect. Okinawa, once called the Ryukyu Kingdom, has been blessed with rich forest and ocean resources.

© Koichi Torimura

The Okinawan people organised a unique social system by gradually adopting the culture and latest technologies of their neighbors while carefully adapting and integrating them to their particular environment. They cultivated particular lifestyles based on their natural surroundings, and thus were able to create a sustainable relationship with nature.  
© Koichi Torimura

However, due to the constant change of governing bodies, and rapid inflow of new technologies since the Industrial Revolution, they lost touch with this delicate balance between people and nature. The architecture was no exception. The vernacular buildings were replaced by newly-imported conventional construction methods that placed a huge emphasis on convenience and safety. This led to the loss of the Okinawan cultural identity in addition to damaging the l...