yosuke ichii architects design ik house around a camphor tree

yosuke ichii architects design ‘ik house’ around a camphor tree
photo © yohei sasakura

yosuke ichii architects have designed a minimalist home for a couple with two grown children. the form encompasses the large camphor tree in the southeast quadrant of the site. entering the house to the northeast, a small entryway leads to into a long narrow kitchen and dining area. continuing through the house a stair leads up to the second story in northwest corner. emphasizing the importance of nature, each room looks outdoors with large expanses of glass. a small deck attaches to the house at the yard, creating an outdoor room between the kitchen and bedroom.

the house is built around the large camphor tree in the southeast quadrant of the site
photo © yohei sasakura

(left): large expanses of sliding glass doors open the house to the outdoors
(right): the second floor leads out to a large roof terrace
photo © yohei sasakura

the kitchen looks out over the garden
photo © yohei sasakura

(left): the dark wall separates the entryway from the kitchen, creating a visual end to the long space
(right): each room of the corridor-less house is connected visually
photo © yohei sasakura

the house is composed with minimal circulation space
photo © yohei sasakura

built-in furniture
photo © yohei sasakura

the second floor room opens directly to the outdoors
photo © yohei sasakura

courtyard becomes an external passageway
photo © yohei sasakura

clean lines define the kitchen
photo © yohei sasakura

project info:

location: osaka kishiwada
use: private housing
structure: wooden
scale: two-story
site area: 75.07 square meters
construction area: 25.12 square meters
total floor area: 31.34 square meters on the ground floor 80.90m ² 2 floor 22.71m ²
completion: september 2012
photo: sasakura yohei