YAWN YARD is a place to stay. Getting to know the area and chatting with local people led to
creating a yard where we could slow down and take things easy in the new way we discovered on
this island. We thought about how the living room could blend in with nature. And how we could
encapsulate the aesthetics of this style of life in a chair. Would it be possible to prepare
meals with ingredients sourced from the nearby neighborhoods? We explored our ideas by focusing
on creating a farsighted and satisfying way of life, without making unnecessary changes or
adding anything extra. It’s a pleasure meeting you here. Welcome to the YAWN YARD.
YAWN YARD Kouri Island
With the sea of Kouri Island in front of you, admiring sunsets from any part of the yard is a
true delight. Spend your evenings by the pool and your mornings at the nearby beach. Bask in the
quiet beauty of Kouri Island, all to yourself.
Two small buildings joined by a large roof
A 100-square-meter yard right next to the sea and sunsets of Kouri Island.
Eat, swim and sleep in your exclusive yard, harmonizing with nature.
Be it one or ten, or including freewheeling children, a generous space where
everyone is free to explore and gaze in all directions.
A small waterfront with wild vegetation
One yard, one small pool.
A bedroom where sea breezes, and a partially open-air dining area.
An edible yard where fruit, flowers, and leaves grow.
Furniture
made with local materials
Okinawa style furniture created for this yard by a local designer.
Counters made of Ryukyu limestone and low tables of red brick.
YARD LAMP for savoring an outdoor meal together, giving everyone a healthy
glow.
Contemporary version of Yambaru kusuimun
Food that we share and that eventually becomes part of our bodies.
Look out from the yard and savor in your meal the entire scenery of Yambaru.
Traditional seasonings like salt from the neighboring island, Shuri miso with
over 160 years of history, and island pepper, along with the quality produce of
the day, all come alive.
Location
Kouri, home to just four hundred people, is a small island that you can
drive all the way around in about fifteen minutes. There are three beaches each on the north
and south of the island. Just across the Kouri Bridge, it quietly appears near the unique
ecosystems of the Yambaru Forest, a World Natural Heritage site. Any of the narrow lanes
will take you to places where you can experience the life and culture of Okinawa. As you
relax and look out onto the ocean, you might occasionally spot a whale spraying water into
the air. If you happen to glance under the bridge, you find a sea turtle enjoying seaweed.
All the yards at YAWN YARD face west. So make sure to arrive in time to watch the sun go
down.
Contributors
Architect
Jo Nagasaka( Schemata Architects )
YAWN YARD allows you to orient yourself in whatever direction, whenever you wish. Eat and drink at the partially outdoor dining area, then indulge in swimming in the pool.
Art Director
Yoshiaki Irobe( Nippon Design Center )
YAWN YARD even can welcome things like abruptness and lack of refinement, defining them
as a sense of abundance.
Food Design
Takashi Ueta( Denkyo )
YAWN YARD offers dining in the yard, which is free from boundaries and blends into the
land and its history—of course, with no unwarranted additions and no excessive
intentions.
Project
Director
Junya Akeyama( GOODTIME )
YAWN YARD somehow helps you feel like yourself again, even though it's not your own home. It’s simply a feeling of satisfaction.
Planing / Project Management
Shinsuke Kashiwabara( Kashiwabara Corporation )
YAWN YARD frees you from time constraints, letting you reflect and connect with yourself
through the power of Yambaru’s nature.
