ume architects tops residence with an oversized sloping roof in japanese suburb

ume architects tops residence with an oversize sloping roof in japanese suburb
all images © yasushi ichikawa

UME architects led by satoru umehara has completed a house located in a suburb of kyoto called itashirakawa. neighboring a botanical garden and a playground; the property sits on a corner with views of the hieizan mountains.

with fewer partitions and boundaries, this gives the interior more natural light, while increasing interaction

designed for a family of four, the three-leveled interior embodies a sense of openess. this was achieved through voids and varying floorslabs between the different levels- creating views of the day-to-day activities and encouraging social interaction between the family members. the kitchen, living and dining form the second floor space where inhabitants spend most of their time and is connected to the third floor and a loft by a void, which is covered by a large ceiling projecting from a terrace. while the master bedroom is based on the ground floor.

the second floor hosts the main programs where the family spends most of their time

on the exterior, the architect wanted to explore a distinctive typology in comparison to the neighboring residences. after approval from the kyoto council, the dramatic diagonal roof was created to top the structure. ‘as an approach to the context, I selected an appropriate roof for both the program and the site and made a study.’ explains architect satoru umehara ‘as a result, I decided to choose simple sloped roof with a ridge in a diagonal line’.  an external ‘band’ wraps the entire building forming a space for plants, terrace and bench. this concrete strip adds depth to the scheme, while creating a seamless division between inside and outside.

spread across three levels, the open plan floor plan encourages social interaction between the family

‘the eyes scan across planting on a terrace and a peak, cherry blossoms in children’s playground, university botanical garden and far mountains. this is not just the borrowed scenery from an open window. in this house the family is living while feeling movement’

a family of four resides inside the japanese home

materials such as concrete and wood have been used throughout

the concrete bands from the exterior form the patios

upstairs houses a study and children’s space

the master bedroom is based on the ground floor

the corner sliding glass doors lead onto the balcony

the architect wanted to create a distinctive building against the neighboring programs