We went to see Satoyama Village together.

May 2017, 10 12:9
We went to see Satoyama Village together.



http://satoyama.s-concept.co.jp/concept/
In Germany and other European countries, detached houses are surrounded by greenery.
That is the norm. Every time I go there, I am healed by its beauty and at the same time
I am overwhelmed.
Japanese housing complexes are divided into rectangular plots, each separated by block walls and aluminum carports, and there are few plants... On top of that, dry siding, semi-exterior sashes, and electric wires mean there's no view whatsoever... that's the reality.
About 10 years ago, various efforts were made to change this situation at Kobunaki Eco Village in Shiga Prefecture.
I tried to do that, but there were many legal and financial issues involved and I wasn't able to achieve everything I had hoped for.
Among them, Satoyama Village that I visited this time was amazing.
"It's amazing that Japan has been able to achieve this."
That was my honest impression.
We were guided by the president of S Concept, who organized this project.
But I heard a lot of interesting stories.
-If this housing complex is so amazing, why doesn't it get much coverage in the media?
"This housing complex is apparently a little different from the fields of architecture and landscape design."
・Residents pay a monthly management fee of 4000 yen
In summer, the temperature is about 2°C lower than the surrounding area.
・When the season is good and there are no mosquitoes, we often have BBQs together in the central woods. The fathers also get along very well.
-Wouldn't it have cost a lot of money for the exterior construction and planting to do all this?
"That's not the case at all, because it's offset by the cost of maintaining the roads."
・It took about five years for the forest to stabilize. The first year, a certain type of insect appeared in large numbers, and the next year, a different type of insect appeared. At first, the clover grew thick to about 5cm, but then it died out, and now moss has grown beautifully.
・In order to create a natural broadleaf forest, various trees were relocated from the actual mountain at a height of about 5m while maintaining their diversity. Because the trees in the mountain grow in a dense state, they are tall but have a small diameter, making it easy to transport them in large quantities. When planted loosely on site, they grew in diameter without growing in height.
I thought it was really wonderful, etc.
President Magoe himself graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, and I think this project was possible only because of his deep love and knowledge of trees. Most of the houses being built are regular houses from manufacturers, but the plants have the effect of dividing up each facade, making the streetscape look neat and tidy, which is also an excellent feature.
This is something that housing companies and architectural media should take a look at.
However, please be aware that if you enter the building without permission, you will be reported!