Project Name: YAWN YARD Kouri Island

Location: Okinawa, Japan

Design Team: Schemata Architects

Area: 921.85 m²

Completion: August 2024

Photographer: Ju Yeon Lee

Feature：

Project - Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka and his firm Schemata Architects have unveiled YAWN YARD Kouri Island, a collection of distinctive V-shaped villas that respond ingeniously to the challenging topography of Okinawa's coastline.

Located on the scenic Kouri Island, the project reimagines the typical resort typology through a modular yet adaptable design approach. The architects developed an innovative "inverted V-shaped unit" system that combines two standardized plans, allowing each villa to be uniquely positioned while maintaining construction efficiency.

The complex is spread across two distinct sites – a narrow strip along the road with undulating terrain, and a trapezoidal plot with significant level changes. Rather than forcing identical structures onto the irregular landscape, Nagasaka's solution allows each villa to adjust its V-angle and orientation, creating varied compositions that embrace rather than fight the site's constraints.

Each villa is thoughtfully organized around a semi-outdoor space positioned at the V's opening, offering prime ocean views. This central area serves as a fluid indoor-outdoor living space featuring a dining area and private pool. The two wings house bedrooms with either kitchen or bathroom facilities facing the sea, creating an intuitive flow between spaces.

The project stands out for its deep integration with Okinawan culture and craftsmanship. Nagasaka collaborated extensively with local artisans and manufacturers, incorporating indigenous materials like Ryukyu limestone and traditional tiles. The interior features custom furniture made by local workshops and artworks by Okinawan artists, while the landscape design carefully considers native vegetation.

The architecture creates what Nagasaka calls a "seamless and leisurely time" – a sophisticated interplay between interior and exterior spaces that responds to daily rhythms, from morning sunbathing to evening sunset views, all while maintaining privacy between neighboring units.

Design Team - Schemata Architects, established in 1998 by visionary architect Jo Nagasaka, has emerged as one of Japan's most innovative architectural practices, consistently pushing the boundaries of spatial design through a distinctive methodology that bridges conceptual thinking with hands-on materiality.

Founded upon graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, Nagasaka's studio has evolved into a multidisciplinary powerhouse, orchestrating projects across architectural, interior, and furniture design. The practice, headquartered in Tokyo's Sendagaya district, operates under a philosophy that emphasizes 1:1 scale thinking—an approach that treats every project, regardless of scale, with the same rigorous attention to detail and spatial relationship.

Under Nagasaka's leadership, the firm has garnered international recognition for its adaptive reuse projects and retail environments, notably the globally acclaimed Blue Bottle Coffee outlets and the innovative DESCENTE BLANC retail concept. The practice's portfolio demonstrates exceptional versatility, from private residences like the minimalist Sayama Flat to institutional projects such as the Musashino Art University Building No.16.

Schemata's work is characterized by its material honesty, spatial fluidity, and innovative programming solutions. The firm's methodology often involves experimental material applications and creative space-planning strategies, resulting in environments that challenge conventional architectural paradigms while maintaining functional integrity. This approach has earned them numerous commissions for cultural institutions, retail brands, and private clients worldwide, establishing Schemata as a leading voice in contemporary architectural discourse.