Situated in a semi-natural woodlands area in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan, this private house was designed for a family of four by Naoi Architecture & Design Office. The large plot of land is in a newly developed area and the architect chose to connect the home with nature by designing a one-story house that opened up to the surrounding neighborhood.
The design is set up as an open square plan with a living room in the middle. A master bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchen, and closet are lined around the outer zones.
The large hipped roof is constructed out of wooden roof girders and rafters for support. The roofline mimics a mountain which was unfortunately lost during the neighborhood’s development phase.
The attic space is covered by the hipped roof with the entire south side being covered with glass.
The other side of the house slopes down to form the single story aspect of the structure.
Sliding doors can be closed to subdivide the living area up for privacy.
The sloped roof creates a lightness throughout the space thanks to the height and window panels in the attic space.
The attic space provides extra room for the family and allows for a loft area that overlooks the open living area.
Photos by Hiroshi Ueda.