arbol builds a family house with three inner courtyards in akashi, japan

located in a quiet residential area in akashi, hyogo prefecture, japan, the newly-built family house by architectural studio arbol maintains a traditional japanese style. despite the limited site area, the wooden building features three inner courtyards for the family to enjoy the pieces of nature while staying indoors. 

all photos by yasunori shimomura

arbol’s house is divided into three areas — a japanese-style room with tatami floor, a living-dining room with a kitchen, and a private area featuring a laundry. each zone faces its own courtyard, while the kitchen neighbors with a woodstove — the clients asked for it specifically, so their children would enjoy the sound of burning wood during the winter and fully experience the season.

the common space is wrapped with soft sunlight filtered through the buffer of three surrounding courtyards. meanwhile, other spaces are lit by direct daylight coming through the windows. 

project info:

site area: 172.81 sqm

location: akashi, hyogo, japan 


materials: ceder wood, galvalume, plaster coating


period: january 2018 – july 2018


basic design and execution management: arbol


detail design: arbol + hasuike


builder: sasakura corporation

 gardens: oginotoshiya landscape

lighting design: parco space systems

furniture: SITATE bandai mfg.

photography: yasunori shimomura 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom