The Belvedere
The Belvedere is a single-story house built on a hill in Okayama, Japan. The house is arranged like a museum, so that an art collection can be displayed and enjoyed every day. All the walls are made of brick, a simple finish that blends with the surrounding nature. The entrance wraps around the house, and the porch has a bright wood paneled ceiling. Towada stone from Akita Prefecture covers the entrance area. A flat corridor leads to a gallery space with artwork and decorative lighting. Two inner gardens and top lights bring daylight into the long plan.
The Belvedere House by Chikako Matsuo was highlighted as an innovative illustration of architectural design by the A' Design Award. The Belvedere House received the Iron A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design in 2024. The A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award is an international, meritocratic, just and fair design prize that recognizes excellent design of skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions, religious structures, infrastructure designs, landscaping projects and more.
