sato+ lodges semi-open house with transparent roof into narrow alley in sendai, japan

Kimachi-Dori House by Sato+ Architects

About 500 meters north of the Sendai Mediatheque, in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, Sato+ Architects has designed a compact residence that draws natural light in. Making the most of the narrow alley it occupies, the ‘Kimachi-Dori’ house is made up of several layers, with the entrance, living room, and study housed in a partially open space topped by a semi-transparent roof. The permeability of the structure facilitates ventilation and lighting and allows residents to have direct contact with the surrounding gardens, which serve as partitions between the private houses.

the ‘Kimachi-Dori’ house makes the most of the narrow alley it occupies

all images courtesy of Sato+ Architects

living in a narrow car-free alley

The site is located in a corner where eight houses are tightly packed along a narrow gravel road less than 4 meters wide. The narrow street, impassable even for light vehicles, is lined with gardens that look like the patios of the houses, giving it an intimacy that makes it hard to believe that it is an urban street. On the other hand, a five-story hospital was built to the south of this small village-like settlement, deviating from the small scale of the overall establishment. In order for it to obtain sunlight in winter, it was decided to install windows at a height of 13 meters.

The clients chose this location because they wanted to live in an urban environment that still provides privacy and warmth. The house by Sato+ Architects (find more here) is designed to obtain natural sunlight through its transparent roof and skylights, which helps illuminate the narrow alley. When in need of more sunshine, residents can immediately step out of the house thanks to its highly permeable character. They leave their cars behind and walk to the nearby gardens and parks.

the site is located in a corner where eight houses are tightly packed along a narrow gravel road

The alley serves as the entrance, living room, and study of the residence. This semi-open area is ideal for assigning a workspace to the husband of the family who works from home, as it is brightly lit and has direct visual contact with the outside world. Housed under the semi-transparent roof, this area is also used as an intermediate space that leads users to the private rooms on the second floor.

Since the semi-open space is not insulated, the air holes of the vents are exposed in the moisture-permeable waterproofing membrane, and a 12 mm gap is left for finishing. In the gap between the vents, the occupant has inserted a 12 mm thick shelf, overflowing with plants and ornaments, and the skylight-filled passage space becomes a room where the customer can continue to enjoy city life.

the entrance, living room, and study housed in a partially open space topped by a semi-transparent roof