jun igarashi completes the private 'tunnel and trapezoid' house in hokkaido, japan

jun igarashi architects has completed the ‘tunnel and trapezoid house’, a two-storey residence for a couple in tomakomai — a city in japan’s northern hokkaido prefecture. the brief called for a private and secluded dwelling with a hidden entrance and plentiful storage areas. the client also asked for a covered, external space for outdoor cooking in the summer, an independent kitchen, and parking space for two cars.

all images by ikuya sasaki

in response to the brief, jun igarashi architects placed the living room at the center of the ground floor, with the kitchen and other utility rooms to the north. meanwhile, a tunnel-shaped room, positioned at a 45 degree angle and hidden from the passing street, serves as both the home’s terrace and a sheltered porch. a staircase leads to the upper storey, which contains the bedroom alongside washroom facilities and a large, L-shaped walk-in closet.

the building responds to the region’s climate, and the request for maximum privacy, with minimal openings in the highly insulated façade. polycarbonate panels have also been used to ensure seclusion, while gently diffusing the light that enters the house. the doors that connect the home to the sheltered porch area can be opened to join the interior and exterior spaces, while maintaining a sense of distance from the surrounding city. see other projects by jun igarashi’s firm on designboom here.

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project info:

name: tunnel and trapezoid house
location: tomakomai city, hokkaido
architect: jun igarashi architects
person in charge: jun igarashi, mizuki higuchi
main use: housing
site area: 185.11 sqm
building area: 77.6 sqm
total floor area: 127.2 sqm
floor area: 1st floor 60.7 sqm 2nd floor 66.5 sqm
structure: wooden
completed: summer 2020
photography: ikuya sasaki