wood-clad ceiling tops y.murakami architects' family house in japan

y.murakami architects splits japanese house in two

y.murakami architects has completed ‘house in kamakurayama’, a family home located on a hill facing the scenery of the northern slope of mt. kamakura in japan. the project comprises a rectangular, two-story volume placed at the center of the site, with gardens created on both sides. the north side, which faces the main road, serves as the public front yard that is open to the neighborhood, while the south side, where existing trees have been preserved, serves as a private garden for the family. a concrete passage splits the volume in half, connecting the two gardens while serving as a semi-public space that can be open or closed to the surroundings. when the entrance sliding door is fully opened, a continuous flow is created, crossing the front yard, the inner soil, and the south yard.

all images by nao takahashi

CAPTURING unobstructed VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS

while designing ‘house in kamakurayama’, y.murakami architects thought of ways to highlight the key elements of the landscape, which included views of the surrounding mountains and the lush vegetation that was found on site. through the layout of the ground level, the japanese architecture studio created a strong bond between the home and the existing trees. meanwhile, going up the stairs from the concrete ground level and towards the living room, residents can enjoy views of the mountains over the entire south frontage. they reach the dining room while going around the atrium, which creates a spiralling flow line that captures additional views of the trees in the south garden, the sky, and the townscape on the north side. a modified square roof tops the entire upper level, designed to follow the flow’s movement and forming a large studio that continues from the lower floor. the wood-clad ceiling ’embraces’ the entire space and adds warmth to the interior.‘while enjoying the view – unique to this site on a hill – by spinning the relationship with the elements, such as the environment of the town and the existing trees, a rich life will develop across each floor, indoors and outdoors,’ notes y.murakami architects.

corner window captures views of the surroundings