‘villa h’ by SOY source architects in hachimantai, iwate, japan all images courtesy SOY source architects

sendai-based practice SOY source architects has sent us images of ‘villa h’, a two-storey mountainside villa at the base of mt. hachimantai in iwate, japan. conceived for a client who lives in tokyo who plans to move to the new house after retirement, the residence is a fully-functioning home that seeks to absorb the heavily-wooded landscape of the site.

SOY source architects: villa h within context

respecting the nature of the site, the construction worked around the older trees to avoid unnecessary cutting. the compact design features an asymmetrically-pitched roofline that  incorporates three covered outdoor terraces around its perimeters. to allow the client to freely extend the interior out into the woods, each porch has a specific function in accordance to the program that it is placed adjacent too: a ‘BBQ terrace’ enables the kitchen and dining space to move to the outdoors, while the ‘bath terrace’ allows the hot tub users to simultaneously experience the mountains.

SOY source architects: villa h exterior view

SOY source architects: villa h looking out from the living room

SOY source architects: villa h second-storey guest room

SOY source architects: villa h looking out into the bath terrace

SOY source architects: villa h dining room and kitchen

SOY source architects: villa h during winter

SOY source architects: villa h site map

SOY source architects: villa h floor plan / level 0

SOY source architects: villa h longitudinal section

SOY source architects: villa h cross section

SOY source architects: villa h south elevation

SOY source architects: villa h

north elevation

project info:

principal use: private house site area: 658 m2 built area: 104.95 m2 floor area: 139.63 (total), 84.45 m2 / level 0, 55.18 m2 / level+2

structural engineer: ishiyama architects and engineers construction: higashino construction