SPACESPACE: ground and above roof house

'ground and above roof house' by SPACESPACE in ibaraki-shi, osaka, japan
all images courtesy SPACESPACE


japanese architecture practice SPACESPACE has shared with us images of 'ground and above roof house',
a two-storey private dwelling in a residential area in ibaraki-shi, osaka, japan. taking note of the site's
open atmosphere, the design features a transparent street facade with a vertically extended communal
space that continues the sense of expansiveness to the interior.



street view


situated on the corner of an intersection in a neighbourhood populated with long-term residents,
the design aims to maintain a friendly level of communication with the street. in addition, the site is
characterized by an unchanged zoning regulation which enabled the architects to build slightly higher
than the adjacent structure to the south. taking advantage of this ability, the house stands much taller
than a conventional two-storey building, placing its second level above an exceptionally open communal
ground floor.



exterior view


serving as a focal point of the ground floor is an artificial hill made out of concrete and wrapped in
a cushioned cover similar to those used for sofas. the multifunctional unit provides seating opportunities
along one side and a number of pockets for storage around its exterior. a bathroom complete with a bathtub
is accommodated within the igloo-like shell and is accessed by a series of small steps. the hill collects
solar heat gained from a generous window located at an elevated position on the southward facing elevation.



interior view living space


the second storey hosts three bedrooms and a multifunctional central hall. this space serves as a second,
more private living space and is intentionally neutral in its program. great attention was paid to passive
heating and cooling, allowing the house to operate with minimal energy use. the north and south partitions
are constructed as double walls, generating a slim ventilation space that releases abundant heat.
the large window on the ground level can be closed by electric blinds, giving the inhabitants full control
of the interior condition.



aerial view



(left) detail view of pockets
(right) view of dining space



sun entering the interior from the south



(left) entrance into the hill
(right) bathroom



storage and functional wall



staircase






hall on the upper level



ventilation space






living space at night



night view



physical model



floor plan / level 0



floor plan / level +1



section


project info:

principal function: residence
structure: wood
storeys: 2
site area: 53.31 m2
total floor area: 61.92 m2