salto house in japan by m+o maximizes its hillside location
all images courtesy of m+o

 

 

 

architects minatoya michiyo and otsuka tatsuya of japanese practice m+o have completed ‘salto’, a residential dwelling in the northern part of the country, which offers impressive and constant views of mount moiwa and sapporo city. the brief for the family residence called for open-plan and connected living spaces, capable of serving a variety of different needs. consequently, the design team looked to exploit the sloping nature of the site, utilizing the plot’s different levels in order to maximize available floor space.

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
the property is situated on a plot 3.5 meters below the passing street

 

 

 

situated on a block located 3.5 meters below the passing street, access to the home is provided by a bridge that leads directly to a second floor that contains a kitchen, dining space, bathroom and a roof terrace. a mezzanine level offers direct views of a children’s room below, which also provides entry to a garden at the rear of the property. at the lowermost storey, a partially subterranean master bedroom features a low ceiling evoking the feeling of an enclosed and secure cave.

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
a mezzanine level offers direct views of a children’s room below

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
the view from the kitchen at the upper level of the dwelling

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
a bridge that leads directly to the second floor where the home’s kitchen is located

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
kitchen with potential for dining space

m+o salto house sapporo japan designboom
the residence offers impressive and constant views of the neighboring mount moiwa

 

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project info:

 

architects: m+o – minatoya michiyo + otsuka tatsuya
location: sapporo, hokkaido, minami-ku, japan
type: residential
structure: timber, two-storey
area: 192.77 sqm
completed: 2014