yuji tanabe's LL house in japan is slanted to capture views above the nearby mountains

yuji tanabe’s ‘LL house’ is set within a residential area in the mountains of zushi, japan. the site faces a dense forest to the south. as the area is prone to dark winters, the south wall is slanted in the opposite direction of the mountain slope to capture views of the sky above the landscape. the east and west parts of the house have the same sectional shape, but a vertical shift provides natural sunlight and a rich spatial sequence aligning with its purpose. additionally, the east side is higher than the west side to create the main room, since the west part of the mountain is higher and the main room can benefit from better light and views.

all images © yuji tanabe

yuji tanabe architects studied the angle of the roof and wall in 2D and 3D to determine the magnitude of the deviation, while considering the whole volume; how sunlight enters the spaces, as well as the height of gap in the circulation space. the areas connected by this skip floor continue to the roof with a circulation like an ant nest — a sequence that considers its spread in plan and cross section.

yuji tanabe’s ‘LL house’ is set within a residential area in the mountains of zushi, japan

the primary structural feature are the two large volumes on the second floor pushing toward the south and the projecting outer wall surface being oblique. the high ceiling of the second floor living room provides an expansive atmosphere. this large volume is a box-frame construction cantilevered on a double beam system.

the site faces a dense forest to the south

the first floor is equipped with an under-floor heating and cooling system. in winter, warm air passes through the entrance void and warms the second floor. also, at higher levels there are operable side windows assisted by ceiling fans to aid in the vertical movement of air.

the first floor is equipped with an under-floor heating and cooling system

the south wall is slanted in the opposite direction of the mountain slope to capture views of the sky

the areas connected by this skip floor continue up to the roof with a circulation like an ant nest

the east side is higher than the west side to create the main room

this large volume is a box-frame construction cantilevered on a double beam system

the high ceiling of the second floor living room provides an expansive atmosphere

yuji tanabe focuses views above the nearby mountain

scale model

floor plans and sections

project info:

name: LL house
architects: yuji tanabe architects
location: zushi, kanagawa, japan
structural engineer: momi architecture
kitchen: atelier m4
contractor: kawaguchi kenchiku
site area: 175.98 sqm
built area: 66.24 sqm
1f area: 56.31 sqm
2f area: 58.40 sqm
total floor area: 114.71 sqm
year: 2017
photography: yuji tanabe