keitaro muto cantilevers kawate house over the landscape

keitaro muto cantilevers kawate house over the landscape
image © yoshiike teruaki
all images courtesy of keitaro muto

blurring the defined ‘groundscape’ between garden and building this residential home designed by japanese architect keitaro muto is located in gifu city, japan. situated one block back from the main street in a residential area, the site has stores on the east with a large field on the west and rice fields on the north. cantilevered out over the lawn, half of the building is stepped up 1.4m, creating a dynamic space beneath. the staggered flooring system gives the impression that the building is floating in the air. the design is both compact and spacious due to the combination of contrasting dimensions; with a 6.4m high ceiling in the living room and the small playful space under the overhang outside. the building has a direct interaction with the expansive landscape on the west and north side. the surrounding scenery can be enjoyed from the living room while also filtering sunlight through in the afternoon.

exterior view over the rice field and dynamic space underneath the cantilevered building
image © yoshiike teruaki

half of the building is stepped up 1.4m, creating a dynamic space beneath
image © yoshiike teruaki

interior view of the dining space showing direct interaction with exterior surroundings
image © yoshiike teruaki

the high ceilings and large windows filter sunlight through in the afternoon
image © yoshiike teruaki

view showing the skip flooring system with its stepped levels
image © yoshiike teruaki

the house is both compact and spacious
image © yoshiike teruaki

view showing the 6.4m high ceiling in the living room, with light filtering in from its side
image © yoshiike teruaki

nighttime view of the exterior
image © yoshiike teruaki

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project info:

architects: keitaro muto / keitaro muto architects
collaborators: atushi fujio
location: gifu-city, gifu ,japan
use: house
structure: timber
completion: 2013
total floor area: 171.73sqm
photographs: yoshiike teruaki