Base Valley House, Japan

This house designed by Hiroshi Sambuichi in Japan is situated on a site that is exposed to high winds and harsh weather conditions. Instead of trying to resist these extreme conditions, the architect uses them to his advantage. He developed a "wind street" that cuts through the house. When opened up in the summer, the winds are drawn in and cool the house naturally. He placed the bedrooms on the lower level buried in the ground to take advantage of the earth's insulation to help regulate the indoor temperature. The kitchen and living spaces are up stairs under a glass tent that captures the sun's heat in the winter and stores it in the rock walls.