Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates Inc

Sugiura House

Sugiura House
© Shinkenchiku-sha Co. Ltd

SUGIURA HOUSE

Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates

PHOTOGRAPHS
Shinkenchiku-sha Co. Ltd, Ken Yokogawa

AREA
191.45 m²

CATEGRY
Houses

LOCATION
Gujo, Japan

YEAR
2010

Text description provided by architect.

The site for the Sugiura Villa project is located on a hilltop in Hirugano, Gifu Prefecture, and enjoys a panoramic view, spanning more than 180 degrees from east to south.

Sugiura House
© Ken Yokogawa
Sugiura House
© Ken Yokogawa

The land is characterized by a beauty deriving from the relentless climate, and is fully covered by snow in the winter. When I first visited the site and realized the snow depth reached up to three meters, I conceived of minimizing the building’s footprint, and of lifting the building.

The lower floor is small, although the second floor is not visible from below, the use of subtle angles and shadows around the staircase area creates a heightened sense of mystery and anticipation, invited by the soft light from upstairs. The second floor is housed under a polyhedral roof and shares two spaces, a private bedroom and public main room.

At the center with a slight angle under the polyhedral roof is the "KANGU," the core of wet area facilities,. The KANGU divides the floor space into the main room and the bedroom area, and features hidden sliding doors to maintain mutual privacy.

Sugiura House
© Ken Yokogawa
Sugiura House
© Shinkenchiku-sha Co. Ltd

These doors can be arranged flexibly in accordance with different situations. Furthermore, atop the KANGU box is a small loft featuring tatami mats.

The loft is fully covered by the polyhedral roof, which conveys an expansive sense of space beyond that expected for the loft’s small size. The polyhedral design features not only visual benefits, but also enhances the acoustical properties of the room.

Sugiura House
© Shinkenchiku-sha Co. Ltd


Sugiura House
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Sugiura House
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Sugiura House
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Sugiura House
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Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates Inc
T +81 45 9494900 F +81 45 9494944
Ken Yokogawa Architect & Associates Inc
224-0041, 1-33-1 Nakamachidai, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan