This residence is located in a natural environment, facing a cherry tree-lined street where a small stream has been covered, offering excellent views, ventilation, and natural light. The design was carefully considered to incorporate the homeowner’s desire to wake up with the sunrise, look at the sky, and feel the natural light and wind while living.
Considering the maximum possible opening on the south side facing the greenway with cherry trees, it became apparent that varying the floor heights between the north and south sides was a rational aproach. The architectural composition was designed to create long, expansive spaces, stretching east to west, while inserting horizontal planes with skip-floor levels in the north to south direction.
The gaps created by these levels are intended as pathways for light, wind, and people,aiming to create a comfortable living environment.

The entrance seamlessly connects the doma-area, paved with natural pebbles, with the interior, warmly welcoming family and guests.

The front door features carefully hand-applied lacquered washi paper and a handle crafted with
naguri processing. By applying lacquer to kozo paper washi, a unique texture is achieved,
enhancing its strength and deepening its character with use. The handle is made by alternating two types of wood, chestnut and walnut, forming a hexagonal shape that is then given a naguri finish. This technique allows for different visual expressions depending on the angle and provides a pleasant touch feeling wcperience when held.

The flooring material beyond the-‘entrance also features naguri processing, providing a sense of
comfort from the ground up as one steps into the home.

Natural light softly filters in from the upper north side of the upstairs，gently enveloping the
space with the textures of solid bay pine treads, copper-colored handrails, and rattan-wrapped
railings carefully crafted by artisans.

The living, dining, and kitchen (LDK) area, where the family spends most of their time, is
positioned on the second floor with a 13-meter-wide frontage overlooking the cherry-lined street
to the south. The structure is planned as a pillar-less space, allowing a family of five to live
comfortably. By avoiding the use of beams running perpendicular to the main beam, light from the skylight on the north side spreads softly across the ceiling, creating a space where natural
light can be enjoyed throughout the day.

structure design： Hanada Hideaki 

To achieve a pillar-less structure with a maximum span of 12 meters (7. 7 meters for the livingdining area) in a wooden structure, a scissor truss is assembled with 105×270 beams, split and sandwiched with 60×240 beams at 910mm intervals. The skylight area in the perpendicular direction is supported by a Vierendeel truss, enabling a clean, strong roof structure without small beams, where the sheathing boards also serve to handle the horizontal forces.

Environmentally, the building employs passive design principles, with eaves and walls block ing
solar radiation, sufficient insulation performance, and maximizing natural ventilation and natural light. Large openings are provided on the south side on both the first and second floors, capturing the prevailing winds flowing from south to north. The design also utilizes gravity ventilation, with a natural ventilation system that creates airflow by opening the skylight at the top of the roof to draw air from the first floor.

In winter, the warm air accumulated at the top of the roof is drawn in and sent to cold areas such
as under the windows on the first floor and the bathroom, ensuring that warm air circulates
throughout the house.

A terrace seamlessly connects to the LDK, expanding the living space. While maintaining openness to the cherry blossom avenue, we also designed curtains that can reduce visibility for nighttime privacy. During the day, lightweight fabric sways gently in the wind, while at night, the fabric density increases to create a non-transparent boundary, integrating the LDK with the terrace.

The bathroom is adjacen t to the terrace, allowing soft natural light and a breeze to flow into the dressing room and bathroom. By lowering the level of the terrace, the design blocks the view from thegreenway, allowing system to flow and preventing it from lingering, while ensuring a high ceiling height.
The bathroom features Towada stone and hinoki wood, 0ffering various textures, colors, and
scents. Openi g the window to feel the changing seasons while bathing creates a space intended to prov ide both physical and mental relaxation.

The space where the three children study is not enclosed as a private room but is located in a
space about 70 cm lower on a skip floor, subtly separated from the LDK by a waist -high wall
while still sharing the atmosphere with the family.

The homeowner, who lives in harmony with nature by waking up with the sunrise, being active during the day, and sleeping when the sun sets, has their bedroom located on the east side where the morning sun gently filters in. The shoji screens softly diffuse the morning light, and the textured diatomaceous earth walls refl ect natural light throughout the room, creating a bright and welcoming space.

While fully enjoying the benefits of the external natural environment, the interior is infused with
natural materials, creating a space where the warmth of craftsmanship is felt. The house is
designed to develop a rich patina over the decades, watching over the family’s growth with grace.