KINO architects: branch house

'branch house' by KINO architects in fukushima, japan
all images courtesy KINO architects
image © daici ano


japanese practice KINO architects (masahiro kinoshita) has sent us images of 'branch house',
a private dwelling for a four person family in a residential area in fukushima, japan.
treating the communal space as the center of the design, the house 'branches off' to arrange
its private functions at its perimeters. 



fly-by view
image © daici ano


situated on a long site, the single-storey residence is significantly stepped back from the street line
to achieve a private distance from the neighbourhood. each branch terminates with a closed-face of
vertical-running panels, and draws a playful and asymmetrically-pitched profile. in contrast,
the elevations in between are finished in a bright shade of white, accentuating the four diverging
wings as though they were cut from a large mass.


exterior view
image © daici ano



view from one of the gardens
image © daici ano



image © daici ano


at the center, the communal living and dining space becomes the core of the layout with
the master bedroom, children's room, kitchen, bathroom and guest room branching outwards.
each room features a loft level that functions as appropriate storage space - or a play area in
the children's room - for the respective program. a series of columns provides support as well as
highlights the rhythmic finish of the exposed roof structure made out of wood. surrounded by
four gardens, the distance between the rooms facilitate natural daylighting and cross ventilation.
the sprawling layout also aids in resisting possible earthquakes in the area.



interior view
image © daici ano



living room
image © daici ano



image © daici ano



exposed roof structure
image © daici ano



ladder up to loft level
image © daici ano



view from loft
image © daici ano



image © daici ano



images © daici ano



image © daici ano



night view
image © daici ano



image © daici ano



image © daici ano



schematic diagram



site map



floor plan / level 0



floor plan / loft level



structural diagram


project info:

principal use: private residence
structure: wooden
storeys: one
site area: 344.26 m2
building area: 120.61 m2
total floor area: 176.70 m2