suppose design office develops 'house in joetsu' around private courtyard in japan

suppose design office has developed ‘house in joetsu’ around a private courtyard that marks the center of the living space. the residence is located in niigata, japan, in an area that experiences long winters and heavy snowfall. topped with a series of skylights and complete with a living tree, the enclosed courtyard serves as a sheltered space that calmly connects residents to nature all year round.all images by toshiyuki yano

suppose design office has placed the different functions of the house around the private courtyard, which can be opened or closed through the sliding exterior panels. by closing the panels, the garden becomes the center of the living space, where residents can experience nature all year round. even during wintertime, when heavy snowfall covers the building with snow, the house remains calmly connected to the outside.

the ground level encloses private areas such as bathrooms and bedrooms, with walls clad in warm wood that softly contrast the home’s exterior. the upper level features common living spaces, including an open room where the living and dining areas are located, as well as the kitchen, which maintains visual contact with the courtyard through a long horizontal window. wood and concrete are combined in this level, while the sloped ceiling adds to the generous, atmospheric tone of the home’s interior.

project info:

name: house in joetsu

architect: suppose design office

in charge: tanijiri makoto, ai yoshida, keisuke katayama

location: niigata prefecture, japan

gross floor area: 268.26 m2

general contractor: kasahara

construction: nawakenji-m

furniture: karimoku case study