Situated on a hillside overlooking Liujia Mountain, this building features homes arranged side by side with abundant natural light and irregular patterns. Many of these homes face the southern coast, displaying a subtle uniformity in design.
▲ First Floor Plan
The design team oriented the interior walls at a 45-degree angle to the seaside light, tilting the wall axes accordingly. The exterior walls form narrow rectangles extending at this 45-degree angle, enclosing an open space 5.8 meters wide and 13 meters deep. This configuration extends the depth from the south entrance from 5.8 meters to 8.2 meters, enhancing the layers of natural light inside.
Thanks to this 45-degree wall inclination, sunlight penetrates through varying spatial depths, crossing from east to west. The materials used also evolve to merge with and reflect the multidimensional qualities of light. This design approach adds spatial depth and versatility, enriching the overall experience.
To accommodate its function as a studio, a small alleyway was incorporated as a semi-public interior space. This alley connects the city to the studio on the first floor, while the second floor offers a more private atmosphere. Green plants line the alley, and each room opens to windows that create a three-dimensional connection, establishing a thoughtful physical and psychological separation between living and working areas.
The building’s basic structure consists of exterior walls and a roof aligned along the 45-degree axis. A truss structure was constructed on the large roof’s crossbeam, ensuring an 8.2-meter span between wooden supports. This design highlights a lightweight structure compatible with comfortable indoor living.
Where decorative finishes are unnecessary, walls and structural elements remain exposed. For example, one side of the alley inside the building features an undecorated exterior wall facing the studio, while the wall extending at a 45-degree angle outward is painted white.
The materials used hold special significance and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. These include the ceramic tile wall of the landlord’s home, apple wood panels inspired by the landlord’s child’s name, and cypress flooring sourced from Liujia Mountain, reflecting an ideal living environment.
Project Drawings
▲ Second Floor Plan
▲ Roof Plan
▲ Sectional Perspective View
Project Information
Type: Residential
Location: Kobe, Japan
Architect: FUMIASO Architect & ASSOCIATES
Area: 80.98 m²
Year: 2017
Photographer: Shigeo Ogawa
Manufacturers: YASUTA Veneered Surfaces & Design, SHARE WOODS
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