shogo aratani architect & associates: house in miyayamadai

‘house in miyayamadai’ by shogo aratani architect & associates in osaka, japan all images courtesy shogo aratani architect & associates photographer: kaori ichikawa

japanese practice shogo aratani architect & associates has sent us images of ‘house in miyayamadai’, a three-level private house located in southern osaka, japan. located on a site which lays adjacent to a plum grove, the design takes full advantage of its ideal site by arranging its internal programs to gravitate towards a series of south-facing apertures.

south elevation

sitting on a sloping embankment, the slim house features an angled profile which leans over its footprint to provide shading as well as act as blinkers to funnel views out towards the landscape from the living spaces. the ground floor entrance opens up to a generously open circulation space which naturally leads occupants to the main staircase. featuring a leaning railing structure which tapers down to the basement level, the stairway acts as an architectural object within the house while sculpting the flow of the interior space.

(left) staircase from the basement (right) looking down from the second storey

the third level hosts the kitchen, living and dining room and is completed by a covered terrace to the south. largely lit by natural sunlight, the ceiling adopts a box-beam structure with slit-like skylights installed between the beams. the result is a visually-interesting treatment that provides uniform illumination throughout the length of the house.

ground floor looking back to the entrance hallway and staircase

views of the third level

kitchen and dining area

views of the plum grove from the top level

street elevation and driveway

floor plan / level -1

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level +1

longitudinal section

cross section

project info:

primary use: private house client: couple + 1 child consultant: S3 associates inc. general contractor: soken co.ltd structural system: reinforced concrete site area: 159.84 m2 building area: 55.26 m2 total floor area: 116.69 m2