February 02, 2016

House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki

Y Marks the Spot

Japanese architects (and their clients) have a well earned reputation for producing adventurous designs for residential buildings. House H, designed by Hiroyuki Shinozaki, is a great example.

The house is located in the city of Matsudo on the outskirts of Tokyo and was designed for a young family who wanted a forward looking living space. From the outside the building takes on the shape of a stereotypical house with a classic pitched roof. Inside, instead of conventional floors and columns, there are 8 Y-shaped wooden frames which resemble tree trunks. These support the roof as well as 6 platforms of different sizes and at different levels, which act as living spaces for the family. This design allows plenty of light to penetrate the internal apace and provide a wonderful sense of fluidity throughout the house, creating a serene space which encourages the residents to explore and interact.