SNARK + OUVI's house in toyonaka opens outward with light-filled interiors

a minimal house on a hill

tokyo-based studios SNARK and OUVI present their house in toyonaka city, a continuation of their minimalist design language. the project is situated in a residential neighborhood along a sloping plot in osaka, japan, looking outward to a southern view of the hankyu train and airplanes arriving and departing from itami airport.

images by ippei shinzawa

snark + OUVI’s house in toyonaka

to celebrate the distant views across osaka, SNARK + OUVI organize the main living space along the second floor. meanwhile, the more private sleeping areas occupy the ground level. the dwelling’s relationship with its site is expressed through its windows — the ground floor and street-facing facade are primarily inward-looking and closed from views. the upper level facing the hill opens widely outward with a full-height wall of glass. 

SNARK and OUVI express the private rooms of their house in toyonaka as solid wooden ‘cores’ which allow light and air to naturally pass through. the bright spaces further show warm, wooden finishes along the flooring and exposed roof structure. the natural materials and sunny interiors create a serene oasis from the urban context of osaka.

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ground level floor plan

second level floor plan

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project info:

project title: house in toyonaka

architecture: SNARK + OUVI

location: toyonaka city, osaka, japan

completion: 2020

photography: ippei shinzawa