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Architects: Mitsutomo Matsunami
- Area: 89 m²
- Year: 2010
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Photographs:Mitsutomo Matsunami
Text description provided by the architects. The client for this project is a family of three: a couple with a small child. The project began from site selection with the client. After visiting several locations, the inverted L-shaped lot in the residential area of Kawanishi city, Hyogo grabbed the family’s heart with its scenic view far over the Satsuki Mountain from the east side of the lot, which is one level higher than the surrounding townscape.
The couple, who love to spend weekends at home, envisioned their dream house as a spacious single-story with a table for dinning, a room for stretching out and a terrace as specific requests. Due to site conditions the final design grew to a double story residence; however, the open view of the second floor was designed to retain a single-story atmosphere for the family to spend most of the day relaxed. The terrace, the most time-consuming element of the design process, is oriented to the south for sunlight and located directly over the entrance, connected to the living area as one united space, and covered with louvers to protect privacy.
The louvers viewed from the long entrance approach, characteristic of the inverted L-shaped lot, welcome visitors and heighten their expectations for entering the house. On the second floor, the contrast between the terrace, the well-lit relaxing living room, and the quiet dining room with descending light from a skylight allows the clients to choose each space depending on their needs.
The first floor accommodates the master bedroom and the child’s room; however, the family spends most of their time on the second floor.
The owner said, “Since moving into this house, our time stretches and shrinks. Sometimes we feel time flows very slowly, and sometimes we don’t even realize how much time already has passed.” Streaming light and changing scenery of the four seasons observed from the house lets its residents feel the rich fabric that time weaves.
