A Private Yet Communal Japanese Home

The home is located in in Hyōgo Prefecture, a residential district in Kansai region. Extending over two storeys, its special staircases allow the division of the inner spaces across multiple levels. Through this interlaced arrangement, hidden places emerge to the residents.

The ground floor is designed for open space living, encompassing a kitchen, dining and living room. A garden and a terrace allow contact with the outside while the addition of a fence provides a private sphere. The first floor hosts a storage section and a bedroom. Finally, on the top level of the so-called ‘Feeling of Distance House’ are a loft, a nursery and a multipurpose library.

Wood plays an important role in the interior design, as many parts of the house such as the floors, stairs and ceiling consist of this natural material and complete the rough look of this concrete building.