suppose design office: house in fuchu, hiroshima

‘house in fuchu’ by suppose design office
all photos by toshiyuki yano / nacása & partners inc.

situated in hiroshima, japan is ‘house in fuchu’, a personal dwelling by suppose design office. from the street, at first glance, it appears as a white monolithic structure situated within a courtyard formed by surrounding homes – protected by a concrete wall which hides any openings – that is accessed via a ground level door, or staircase to the right which leads directly up to the residence.

a solid concrete barrier lines the exterior of the home, with a narrow pool situated between it and the dwelling along one side

the interior layout provides views through each level via an open staircase, giving the multilevel establishment a lofty feel. on the ground floor there is an open kitchen, dining and living area which is lit by wraparound windows which reach the height of the exterior wall, offering privacy from the street. along one side of  the panoramic fenestration is built-in bench seating, giving alternative areas in which individuals can gather and enjoy the natural light which floods through. wood lines the second and third floors which are the progressively more private areas of the home, with bathroom and sleeping areas located here.

the ground floor offers social spaces with an open living, kitchen and dining area and built-in bench seating

tucked between the solid barrier and the home itself is a narrow pool which runs the length of the living quarters, with stone yards lining the other walls
which meet the base of the windows, making the dwelling feel as if it has been built into the ground. 

wraparound windows allow sunlight to filter through

general view of the ground floor

a surrounding rock garden which meets the base of the windows makes the home feel as if it is built into the ground

an open staircase gives the dwelling a lofty feel

interior by night

project info:

location: fuchu city,hiroshima japan
principal use: personal house
site area: 156.04sqm
building area: 58.40sqm
total floor area: 144.80sqm
completion: september 2011
design period: april 2007-december 2010
construction period: december 2010-september 2011
structure: steel structure
project team: makoto tanijiri(suppose design office)
structural engineer: ohno japan
photographer: toshiyuki yano