SOWOOD, Wooden Houses Rich in Domestic Timber: "Type_005 The Double-Fronted Single-Story House" Announced

FANFARE Co., Ltd. (Location: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City; CEO: Shingo Kajiwara), aiming to create homes that contribute to the stable circulation of Japan's forests while enriching lives, developed 'SOWOOD' in May 2025. SOWOOD is an environmentally symbiotic standardized house that fuses traditional Itakura construction with modern design and technology. As a new selection featuring abundant domestic timber and high performance, 'Type_005 The Double-Fronted Single-Story House' was announced on April 28, 2026.

### Features of 'Type_005 The Double-Fronted Single-Story House'

**'Nanboku Touka' (North-South Equality): An open facade without front or back**
The design adopts 'Nanboku Touka,' making the window placement and specifications identical for both the north and south sides. This allows light and wind to be captured equally regardless of site conditions or orientation. The clean appearance, which visually has 'no front or back,' symbolizes primitive architectural strength.

**The pinnacle of 18 tsubo x 910mm module**
Based on the 'Itakura method,' the core of SOWOOD, the design maximizes the 910mm pitch module. It achieves both structural safety (Earthquake Resistance Grade 3) and spaciousness, deriving the optimal solution of 18 tsubo. Defining this minimum unit as 'one module' provides versatility for future expansion or multi-purpose use (atelier, vacation rental, etc.).

**'A house floating from the ground': Dialogue between concrete earthen floor and roof**
The concrete earthen floor (deck) surrounding the building is intentionally thin, with gaps between the steps. This creates a visual effect as if the entire building is floating above the ground. By blurring the boundaries with external space, it constructs an independent worldview that feels complete just by being placed in nature.

**Design details expanding the possibilities of traditional 'Itakura Method'**
The specific challenge of the Itakura method—exposing the structure without covering the walls—was solved by consolidating wiring and plumbing and through creative design, pursuing the 'beauty of the skeleton.'

**Functional beauty of passive design**
The large openings to the north and south naturally control heat storage in winter and ventilation in summer. Utilizing the heat storage effect of the concrete earthen floor, it achieves a comfortable thermal environment without relying too heavily on mechanical equipment.

### Overview
- Name: Type_005 The Double-Fronted Single-Story House
- Floor Area: Approx. 18 tsubo (59.62 sqm)
- Structure/Method: Wood / Itakura Method (Earthquake Resistance Grade 3 secured)
- Use: Residence, Villa, Vacation Rental (Minpaku)
- Website: https://sowood.jp/lineup/type_005/

### Thoughts from the Designer and CEO
Designer Kenji Yasuko-uchi says, 'In designing Type_005, I aimed for a clean presence that responds to the environment rather than closing the home off to the site. This design liberates the flow of light and wind from fixed concepts. By limiting the scale to a compact 18 tsubo, we provide spatial density born from stripping away waste, along with future expandability.'

CEO Shingo Kajiwara adds, 'A year since SOWOOD's development, we've reflected on the possibilities of timber architecture through dialogues with the Itakura Method Association and those in the forest industry. While situations like rising material costs continue to change, we want to continue proposing homes where domestic timber is utilized and loved for a long time. We hope this home becomes a bridge between Japan's rich forest culture and modern life.'