Krampon House

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

KRAMPON HOUSE

Shogo Aratani Architect & Associates

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yutaka Kinumaki

CATEGORY
Houses

CONSTRUCTION
Amerikaya Co.,Ltd.

LOCATION
Japan

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
S3 Associates Inc.

AREA
136 m²

YEAR
2012

Text description provided by architect.

This is a residential area where the magnificent nature still remains. The site is situated on a sloped land among natural forest.

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

Two large trees with beautifully shaped branches (one is a camphor tree and the other a cherry tree) stand on top of the site. These trees are integrated into the residential design.

The entire site is steeply sloped, and the gap between the top and the bottom is as large as approximately 11 meters. And the ground composed of a rock bed is extremely hard.

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

Considering these landscape conditions, we decided to place volumes along the sloped ground to minimize excavation.

In order to provide the best view, the main spaces are located on the top floor and the other interior spaces are connected along the slope down to the street level.

We designed the spatial sequence in relation to the landscape by placing three volumes along contour lines.

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

The upper volume is placed right underneath the two large trees. A skylight is provided in the living room to see the trees above.

The volume on the north is allocated for bathroom. The volume on the lower level contains

Private rooms on the first floor and a wood decked terrace on the roof, accessible from the living room.

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

We place stairs with the same inclination as the ground at the intersection of the three volumes.

The stair space is used as a library, while the stairs are designed to accommodate a large number of books.

Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki
Krampon House
© Yutaka Kinumaki

By designing the three volumes along the landscape, diverse activities are generated and one can enjoy unique spatial sequences as they are.

A sizeable volume of rock was excavated upon construction of the garage, and it is reused as exterior finish on pavements and steps along the entryway.


Krampon House
Sections
Krampon House
Floor Plan