shinta hamada architects tops 'house U' in japan with large roof + triangular skylight

shinta hamada architects has completed ‘house U’, a private residence for a three-generation family, in in ashikaga city, japan. the single-story building is topped with a large roof and a triangular skylight that brings ample natural light inside the windowless, central space of the home. the roof’s generous eaves project beyond the square floor plan of the house, providing protection from rain and wind, while blocking out strong sunlight in the summer.all images by kenichi suzuki

shinta hamada architects has built ‘house U’ in a suburban agricultural area, surrounded by diverse rural landscapes and a residential area to the west. the residence is developed for a three-generation family of eight people with different tastes and lifestyles, who can all coexist harmoniously under one roof. the compact, square volume is placed in the middle of a long and narrow site to optimize views towards the surrounding natural environment as well as reserve enough space for future extension plans.

the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and entrance are arranged in the four directions of the building, and four private rooms of the same size are arranged so as to fill the space between the cores. the central space is surrounded by the private rooms and serves as the living / dining space where the family can gather. each private room is complete with large openings that offer views of the surroundings, while the main space has no windows and receives natural light from the skylight on the roof.

sliding doors separate each private room from the central space to create privacy, while allowing it to also serve as a fully-open space when the doors are open. the exterior of the home combines concrete with wood, while wood is also used inside, on the floors, ceilings and furniture.

project info:

name: house U

architect: shinta hamada architects

site area: 1298.53 m2

total floor area: 116.7 m2

location: ashikaga city, tochigi prefecture, japan