tomhiro hata adds a romanesque façade to narrow, all-white dwelling in kobe

with each unique site, an architect faces a different set challenges — and in some cases these challenges lead to fascinating solutions. on the slopes of kobe, japan, a common design obstacle is working with a steep hill with a narrow plot, but for architect tomohiro hata these unique characteristics were not a set back at all, but an asset.

made of concrete and painted all-white, the residence seems to be somewhat inspired by the international style
all images by toshiyuki yano

the japanese architect devised a unique modular design based on the romanesque façade of medieval cathedrals. the home’s complex series of arches read almost like flying buttresses and give the space a feeling of great openness, flow and access to natural light. the house has many layers of these arches that allow for ‘free space stacking’. navigating its several floors proves quite interactive, with interesting use of organic shapes on each floor that come together in a comprehensive way.

this japanese family home stands out in a neighborhood of orthodox vernacular architecture

this japanese family home stands out in a neighborhood of orthodox vernacular architecture. constructed of concrete and painted all-white, it looks to be somewhat inspired by the international style, yet the architect employs the use of refined hardwood which adds a contrasting shade to the stark white and creates a feeling of comfort.

refined hardwood adds a contrasting shade to the stark white

with ‘house in tarumi’, tomohiro hata rethinks how to effectively occupy a small plot of land with the best results for its human inhabitants, who can now easily enjoy the characteristics of their urban landscape simply by inhabiting their own home.

navigating its several floors proves quite interactive

the house has a series of arches that give it a feeling of openness

the use of stained wood in the whited out space gives the inside a homey quality

the craftsmanship of the project is immaculate

the roof of the suma house offers views for miles and miles, it pays to live on a hill

the many levels of the suma house from the garage bellow all the way to the observatory above

nighttime at the suma house