‘gaifukan’ by yusuke koshima architecture studio, kobe, japan image © ken’ichi suzuki all images courtesy of yusuke koshima
a well-versed client, author, professor and martial arts master called on japanese firm yusuke koshima architecture studio to design ‘gaifukan,’ half house and half aikido dojo in kobe, japan. the traditional wood frame house contains a dojo on the ground floor capable of hosting 150 students, with a semi-public library and salon in the upper level, sitting opposite the private residence. each component has its own roof whose exterior panels are oriented in different directions, as well as a unique ceiling design made of timber planks. the varying pitches and sizes of each canopy create skylights and clerestories for natural light to illuminate the various interior spaces and half levels wrapped in timber veneer. the ‘home for all’ comfortably accommodates all the requirements of its dynamic owners in a cozy environment.
street-side facade image © takeshi yamagishi
outer wooden wall wraps around a narrow courtyard image © ken’ichi suzuki
dojo space with timber planks comprising the roof image © ken’ichi suzuki
image © takeshi yamagishi
image © takeshi yamagishi
office / libraryimage © takeshi yamagishi
image © takeshi yamagishi
gaifukan drawing
floor plan / level 0
floor plan / level 1
section
section
elevation
elevation
elevation
caption
oriented roof panels
program study
project info:
stories: 2 highest point: 9750 mm site area: 281.22 m2 building area: 168.08 m2 total floor area: 319.17 m2 1st floor area: 168.08 m2 2nd floor area: 151.09 m2 design period: 2010.2 – 2011.2 construction period: 2011.2 – 2011.11 street width: 8m parking: one car construction: nakashima koumuten, masami sumi, daisuke kato exterior: shuji yamada (japanese tile – kawara), hanayashu (green exterior) textile design: ando yoko design yoko ando team: yoshiharu kanebako, ryotaro sakata
Dec 30, 2025
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