hearth architects' house in japan blends concrete with timber touches

Hearth architects builds family house in japan

‘House in Nango’ is a two-story detached house in Japan, designed by local studio Hearth Architects. To deal with the incline of the site, the design team played with different levels. Thus, in order to gently connect the inner and outer height difference, the resulting structure is topped by a 19-meter-long roof that extends to a garage space.

The sloping roof is also apparent from the inside, while niches emerge within the space standing out thanks to the interplay between concrete and wood. Therefore, the project sees a minimalistic design that avoids excess decoration, letting the different textures do the talking.

all images by Yuta Yamada

a minimalistic yet intimate dwelling

For this project, the design team sought to generate a neat yet inviting spatial environment where the family members can have quality time together but also ‘hide away’ for self-reflection. The minimalist interior blends cool greys of concrete with warm timber touches, offering an intimate atmosphere for its inhabitants.

The pure and sober material palette is interrupted by multi-sized openings from different directions letting in plenty of daylight. In addition, a small skylight pierces the sloping ceiling at its highest part, offering a glimpse of the blue sky. In order to further extend the living space, the design team pierced the structure with floor-to-ceiling openings that smoothly fade out the boundaries between in and out. All in all, Hearth Architects offers a design that fuses traditional Japanese sensibilities that outstands by its simplicity and fluidity.