# Flood-Mitigating Wooden Homes Ushijima Architects Designs a New Small Home in Shiga Prefecture By Amy Duong | Published 2023-01-30 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ushijima-architects References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2023/01/29/u-house-ushijima-architects-flood-resilient/) & [usharch](https://usharch.com/)  Japanese studio Ushijima Architects works on a new [small wooden house](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/akio-isshiki-architects) that is found in Shiga Prefecture with living spaces that rest on top of a [concrete base foundation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pyramid-hut). This is elevated and built to mitigate the risk of flooding in the area as it is located by Biwa-ko, the [largest freshwater lake](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lakeside-living) in Japan. It boasts the name 'U-House' and sits over a former wetland that was previously used for rice growth. Founder Takahiro Ushijima explains that "[The area] has been attacked by floods time and again after being buried, but the memory of this is forgotten because the technology of flood control has been improved and a lot of new residences have been built [...] We can't anticipate the future of this site, so I designed this house being conscious of two elements: flood and reeds." Image Credit: Ushijima Architects ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 54% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 14% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Flood-mitigation Architecture:** The trend towards designing homes and buildings that can withstand natural disasters, like flooding, provides an opportunity for architects and builders to create innovative, sustainable solutions. - **Elevated Foundations:** As high-risk areas continue to face flooding or other natural disasters, homes with elevated foundations, like the U-House, demonstrate a potential disruptive innovation in real estate development. - **Sustainable Housing Solutions:** This trend provides an opportunity for implementing eco-friendly building materials and designs in order to create sustainable and environmentally-conscious housing solutions. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture:** Architects can take advantage of the flood-mitigation trend to create innovative, disaster-resistant designs that stand out in a competitive construction market. - **Real Estate Development:** As natural disasters become more frequent, real estate developers can benefit by incorporating flood-resistant homes, like the U-House, in areas most at risk. - **Environmental Construction:** The trend towards eco-friendly building materials and designs provides an opportunity for companies specializing in sustainable construction and green building initiatives. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Elevated Flood Refuge Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lift-house.md) - [Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muiltipurpose-japanese-building.md) - [Concrete Boxes-Overlapping Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-tsurumiku.md) - [Timber Tradition Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fukasawa-residence.md) - [Contemporary Timber Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-saidera.md) - [Ever-Changing Japanese Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kumagaya-house.md) - [Barn-Inspired Timber Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-w-1.md) - [Repurposed Wooden Shoreside Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tree-house-by-the-lake.md) - [Pyramidal Concrete Japanese Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pyramid-hut.md)