metallic house N by naoya kitamura contrasts the rich japanese countryside

metallic house N by naoya kitamura contrasts the rich japanese countryside
all images by takumi ota

based among the rural countryside, naoya kitamura architecture office has constructed ‘house N’ adjacent to paddy fields in japan. unlike the constrictions accompanying a city dwelling, the architect was given freedom to expand the residence to fit the client’s needs – resulting in the interiors comprising of nine internal spaces- each embodying its own character and functions.

house N, built with a distinctive contrast to its neighbors, is located in the countryside in japan

structurally, the building is composed of differently-shaped volumes, ranging from a two-storey cuboid, a cylinder, to a rectangular space with a pitched roof. the inconsistent form is united by the use of a silver metal paneling which wraps the entire entity. inside, eight programs consisting of bedrooms and private quarters branch off a main communal space. with no partition walls and many windows, sunlight naturally permeates the timber interiors, while establishing a connection between the home and the rural surroundings.

‘the positioning of the windows face the rich fields while retaining privacy and at the same time, still gives a feeling of being outside. same as the inside of the house, each door faces the inside and the largest spaces uses an accordion curtain or folding door to create a fluent transition, while acting as a flexible space depending on how the resident’s use it.’ – naoya kitamura

the material used is galvalume steel sheet

the home is formed with a mixture of different volumes

without the use of partition walls, the interiors have been left fairly open-plan

there are a total of nine spaces within the residence

natural light filters in through the many windows organized around the building