Front shot of the house located at the residential area.

Architects: FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects
Location: Shiga, Japan
Client: Private
Construction Year: 2014
Site Area: 244,632
Constructed Area: 137,37m2
Design: Kouichi Kimura
Photograph : Yoshihiro Asada

About Architect

Kouichi Kimura, 1960 Born in Kusatsu City, Shiga prefecture, Japan 1991 Established FORM / Kouichi Kimura Architects. “His works, mainly residences, are characterized by a poetic and functional minimalism in which a sense of openness and privacy is achieved through careful slicing and layering of wall elements, light and shadows, volumes and spaces.” – RICHARD MEIER

On a hill constructed like a platform with tiers, this structure is situated in a residential neighborhood.
On a hill constructed like a platform with tiers, this structure is situated in a residential neighborhood.
An open area where you can be yourself without being concerned about onlookers.
An open area where you can be yourself without being concerned about onlookers.
By designing a place with variety that integrates light and scenery around the windows, you can highlight the attraction of this home.
By designing a place with the variety that integrates light and scenery around the windows, you can highlight the attraction of this home.
White paint covers the inner walls, and gray-colored flooring is mixed in.
White paint covers the inner walls, and gray-colored flooring is mixed in.
The size and placement of the window have a significant impact on the view outside.
The size and placement of the window have a significant impact on the view outside.
It's crucial to consider what to reveal and what to keep hidden from the window's scenic backdrop.
It’s crucial to consider what to reveal and what to keep hidden from the window’s scenic backdrop.
As opposed to the clichéd idea of taking in a lot of sight through a big window.
As opposed to the clichéd idea of taking in a lot of sight through a big window.
Mortar with a sense of texture makes up the area.
Mortar with a sense of texture makes up the area.
This window's framing creates a cozy area where you can take in the view and light without being concerned about being seen from the outside.
This window’s framing creates a cozy area where you can take in the view and light without being concerned about being seen from the outside.
By constructing tables, benches, bookcases, niches, and other furnishings, the space provides diversity.
By constructing tables, benches, bookcases, niches, and other furnishings, the space provides diversity.
It is a crucial component that also represents the visual alterations in light and scenery that occur as you move about the space.
It is a crucial component that also represents the visual alterations in light and scenery that occur as you move about the space.
This space serves as a private hideaway where one can read and unwind.
This space serves as a private hideaway where one can read and unwind.
A lovely real-life scene is created that enjoys the nature and light while remaining hidden from view.
A lovely real-life scene is created that enjoys nature and light while remaining hidden from view.

The house is located in a tiered-developed residential area on a hill. From the site, the beautiful scenery of the lake can be viewed.
The customer requested that the view be fully utilized and that the space be opened while not being bothered by the eyes of the neighborhood.

In this project, versatile spaces that incorporate light and scenery were intended by the windows in order to bring out the best in this house. Scenery viewed through a window is greatly affected by the size or position of the window. It is therefore essential to consider what should be viewed or not in the scenery framed by the window, instead of being stereotyped to take in the large area of the scenery by providing the largely-opening window.

The windows as framings produce comfortable spaces where you can enjoy light and scenery without being annoyed by the eyes of the neighborhood. The spaces incorporate a table, bench, bookshelf, niche, and other furniture items so that you can utilize there to view outside, read books, eat meals, etc., which brings out characteristics of each space and provides its versatility.

The space is composed of mortar with a feel of texture, highlighting its presence. At the same time, it provides openness created by the clear and continuous sightline. In addition, the space also serves as an indispensable element that reflects visual changes of light and scenery developed while moving around the room.

The dynamic configuration involving the box-shape volume with the rhythmical layout of the windows produces beautiful life scenes where light and scenery are taken in while the eyes of the neighborhood are blocked.

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