YAM / Ks ARCHITECTS

Architects: Ks ARCHITECTS
Location: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Architect In Charge: Kikumi Kusumoto
Area: 419.0 sqm
Year: 2014
Photographs: Seiji Ohashi

From the architect. It’s a plan of house serves as a guesthouse concurrently. The site is located in a quiet residential district since long ago, and borders on mountains on the east.

The height difference between the site and front roads is about 2-3m. The approach to the ‘floating single-storied house’ is from the basement floor. The basement floor includes entrance, garage, service etc. The spaces for living and guesthouse are arranged in the floating 1st floor, and the roof floor consists of a roof terrace and a tiny ‘box’, which is placed in the roof garden. By making the most use of the environment and levels, even the low-rise house can own a 360°view from the roof.

The curve RC wall screen (t-180) flows from north to east. Stoneware tiles (90×1000) are vertically veneered on the wall, so as to shape the curve smoothly. To create technical lightness, hardware & cement combined-use open joints have been selected.

Interior space is composed of BF, 1F, 2F/roof and circulation. Each room is arranged on the inner side of the curve screen. Between the curve screen and rooms, courts have been placed. In conjunction with the biggest court on the BF, these voids improve the functionality and livability. The hall, corridors, staircase are veneered by travertine walls that the open joints have also been used. The living and dinning room on 1F ensure the width as a guesthouse, and the 3.5m celling height supplies a commodious space. Presenting the integration of interior and exterior spaces, the biggest court is covered by porcelain tiles, the same as the courtyard’s.

The sash-only southern and western sides constitute the screen of glass, echoing and contrasting with the curve screen outside. The external blinds under the eaves and the vertical blinds inside can control sunlight and ventilation of the space.

From the ‘box’ (study) on the roof floor, the family can enjoy the sakura season in the eastern mountain range. People also can hold parties on the turfed roof garden while enjoying the great scenery.

The house seems like sealed when being looked from the intersection, on the contrary, the connection of the sprinkled courts and courtyard makes the space light and open.