Radical Resilience: The Off-Grid House in Amami Ōshima
On the subtropical center of Amami Ōshima, an emerging residential typology has quietly emerged, one that rejects centralized infrastructure in favor of radical autonomy. Born from a necessity to address the accelerating environmental shifts and the fragility of remote regions, the Off-Grid House is less a mere dwelling and more a laboratory for future living.
The project represents a sophisticated dialogue with the island’s vernacular memory. Confronted by the island’s notoriously low solar irradiation, comparable to northern Japan, the residence functions as a self-circulating ecosystem, defying the region’s oppressive humidity without external power or air conditioning.
Architecturally, the home deconstructs the historical buntō (multi-volume) layout into five distinct geometric volumes. This separation creates a network of in-between spaces, fluid thresholds that dissolve the boundary between human habitation and the natural world Reanimating Amami’s spirit of yui (collective cooperation), the architecture accommodates the island’s traditional large-scale gatherings, proving that even in an age of uncertainty, the home can remain a vital cultural platform.
The Architect’s Statement
When I began the design of my residence in central Amami Ōshima, total disconnection from the power grid was not the initial intent. However, as environmental degradation accelerates and extreme weather becomes our new normal, that choice has become inevitable.
The decision was catalyzed by a mountain property I purchased three years ago. This was a place where I began developing micro-infrastructure to live independently. I wanted to prepare for unforeseen crises while envisioning creative forms of resilience for Japan’s aging, depopulated regions. However, implementing full self-sufficiency deep in the mountains proved difficult.
The Urban Experiment: To test the feasibility of off-grid living, I chose my own urban residence as the experimental site. Their main challenge was the island’s limited sunlight. After evaluating wind, hydro, and geothermal options, solar remained the only practical path. Ten days before the groundbreaking ceremony, I decided to sever the national grid connection completely.
Vernacular Engineering The result is an autonomous house that allows a family of four to live comfortably, rooted in the island’s vernacular memory.
Spatial Logic: Inspired by the region’s historical buntō style, the house consists of five independent volumes (bath, bedroom, storage, etc.). The spaces between these volumes serve as shared living areas, connecting fluidly to verandas and gardens.
Climate Response: The roof form reinterprets local corrugated-metal and irimoya profiles. It integrates layers of insulation and ventilation while referencing elevated Takakura granaries. This allows wind to pass freely in all directions to combat humidity.
Sustainability in a Living Ecosystem is circular in nature. A small wood-fired sauna uses construction offcut fuel. Food waste is composted and returned to the vegetable garden, creating a closed loop between the builder, the site, and the family’s table.
Amami is known as the Island of Ties. While traditions fade with urbanization, this house restores cultural rhythm.
Family celebrations often gather over eighty relatives, continuing late into the night. The open, tolerant spaces of this house naturally invite people to gather, blurring the distinction between private dwelling and communal place. This project redefines contemporary home as both a shelter and a cultural platform. It is an architecture that sustains life beyond the grid while inheriting the spirit of Yui. It is a quiet re-examination of what it means to inhabit in the age of environmental uncertainty.
This Project is one of the submission from Merci x Sky Design Awards 2026
SAKAI ARCHITECTS :
Website: https://sakaiarchitects.com/index.html