- Project: Tiny House TEKITEKI-AN
- Architect: 6lines studio
- Location: Japan, Kamogawa
- Year: 2023
- Area: 9 m2
- Photography: Ryo Oyama
Nestled in the Satoyama village of Kamanuma, just two hours from Tokyo, TEKITEKI-AN by 6lines studio is a poetic micro-architecture project that embodies the cyclical flow of water and the enduring traditions of rural Japan. At just 96 square feet, this tiny retreat offers expansive views of the village and the distant sea, merging ecological sensitivity with cultural heritage.
Concept: Water, Nature, and Tradition
The name “TEKITEKI-AN” combines two concepts: “TEKITEKI”, symbolizing the journey of water drop by drop within the eternal water cycle, and “AN”, a traditional Japanese term for a small house or retreat. The design narrative stems from the observation of a summer orange tree on the site—its roots nourished by mountain rains, its branches reaching toward the sea. This metaphor guided the design as a space deeply connected to the rhythms of nature.
Community and Satoyama Context
Kamanuma is a Satoyama landscape, where farmlands and mountain forests coexist through continuous communal stewardship. Facing challenges of an aging population and rural depopulation, the village has embraced urban-rural collaboration. TEKITEKI-AN emerged from this context as part of broader initiatives by the association Small Earth, which promotes sustainable exchanges between urban residents and the Satoyama environment.
The project was realized through collaborative construction, with 6lines studio, local craftsmen, villagers, and students from Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Tsukamoto Laboratory working side by side. Over six months, they built the structure without outsourcing, making the process as integral to the project as the design itself.
Architecture and Materiality
The 3m x 3m plan recalls the Hojo, the archetypal tea house module in Japanese tradition. Despite its compact footprint, TEKITEKI-AN accommodates diverse uses: a place for tea, remote work, dining, or quiet contemplation.
Key design features include:
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Grass-Covered Roof: Accessible from the slope, the green roof produces oranges while offering panoramic views of the village and sea.
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Reclaimed Windows: Openings are formed from salvaged windows of demolished local homes, arranged in a patchwork that filters daylight into poetic patterns.
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Local Materials: Soil, bamboo, branches, straw bags, and smoked rice husks (for insulation and humidity control) root the building in its immediate environment.
The construction reflects a philosophy of resourceful sustainability, where materials carry the memory of place and enrich the architectural narrative.
A Tiny House, A Large Network
Though only 9m², TEKITEKI-AN is part of a larger cultural and ecological network. It stands as a detached retreat to the old house Yugitsuka, offering moments of stillness while reinforcing communal stewardship of Satoyama. In its modest scale and poetic ambition, the project illustrates how tiny architecture can amplify cultural continuity and environmental care.
TEKITEKI-AN is more than a tiny house—it is a built expression of water, community, and memory. By intertwining reclaimed materials, communal effort, and traditional forms, 6lines studio created a retreat that is at once small in size and vast in meaning.
