hiroshi horio architects: house in bihoro

‘house in bihoro’ by hiroshi horio architects office in bihoro, japan all images courtesy hiroshi horio image © fumiaki sato

sapporo-based practice hiroshi horio architects office has shared with us images of ‘house in bihoro’, a public model house promoted by the ministry of the environment in bihoro, japan. conceived as an ecological dwelling of the 21st century, the two-storey house seeks to stand as a structure of self-support that can easily accommodate new family members of additional generations.

exterior view image © fumiaki sato

read as a composition of three triangular volumes, the design is approached much like a shared housing project commonly seen in the city. the buildings pinwheel away from a common earth floor which acts as a communal space that connects the interiors together. by cladding the single-storey area in a dark metallic material, the common program appears to be inserted among the wood-wrapped triangular forms.

image © fumiaki sato

predominantly finished in untreated wood, the interior space highlights the structure by exposing the rhythmic nature of the ceiling. the earth floor sits elevated in the center of the layout, clearly defining itself as the communal area. a large floor-to-ceiling window visually connects the dining space with the exterior while maximizing on natural daylight intake. acting as two ‘wings’ to either side are the triangular volumes, which hosts a children’s room and a bedroom on the second level. the natural language of the wood is continued throughout the house, accentuating the angles of the structure.

general interior view image © fumiaki sato

earth floor image © fumiaki sato

view of dining space image © fumiaki sato

stairs up to third bedroom image © fumiaki sato

kitchen image © fumiaki sato

upstairs children’s room image © fumiaki sato

image © fumiaki sato

site plan (1) walkway (2) vegetable garden for visitor (3) windbreak (4) north wind (winter) (5) south wind (summer)

floor plan / level 0 (1) garage (2) entrance (3) earth floor (4) kitchen (5) toilet (6) bathroom (7) work space (8) room (9) storage room (10) space for children (11) observation terrace

floor plan / level +1

section

hiroshi horio architects office (3)