0
作品写真

A “crevasse” is a deep fissure in a glacier or snowfield. The form of this house emerged as we applied various forces—site, regulations, lifestyle—to a basic rectangular volume. These forces introduced subtle shifts in the massing, and where these shifts meet, a crevasse-like gap appears.

Rather than viewing this fracture as a negative element, we embraced it as something that could define a unique and comfortable interior. The crevasse frames views of the sky above and draws light filtered through trees in the adjacent park, offering a daily experience of nature within the home.

Outline
  • The house’s form results from applying multiple forces—site, environment, codes, comfort—to a simple rectangular volume.
  • The crevasse formed by shifting volumes becomes a glazed stair hall that draws light deep into the home.
  • A 700mm level difference between the two volumes creates a skip-floor interior that enhances spatial continuity.
  • These “shifts” softly divide the open space and establish a sense of gentle separation for comfortable daily living.

Shaping

Forming the Crevasse

direction

Forming the Crevasse: Elevation Forming the Crevasse: Plan

Plans

direction

basement Plan
1F Floor Plan
2F Floor Plan
Section

Features

Underground garage

A shutter is set approximately 5 meters in from the street, allowing the driveway to serve as an additional guest parking space. This layout avoids the typical appearance of a cut-in garage. Plantings along the side walls and above the shutter give the approach the feel of entering a cave nestled in a hill.

The crevasse

The crevasse functions as a stair hall enclosed in glass. As one ascends, a narrow slit opens toward the park, offering a glimpse of greenery. Light passing through this space reaches not only the upper level but also the ground and basement floors, softly illuminating the entire house.

This vertical void, paired with a skip-floor configuration, visually and spatially connects all the main areas. Movement through and around the crevasse becomes a spatial experience—looking up, down, and across the shifting volumes.

Study + living room

The study and living areas are combined into a single, continuous space. A modest partition between them provides a subtle sense of separation while maintaining openness. This portion has been designed with flexibility in mind—it can accommodate future enclosure should the need for an additional room arise.

The living space opens toward the adjacent park, while the study sits under the crevasse, making both zones comfortable for daily use and allowing for varied ways of inhabiting the home.

Skip floor

Due to site and design conditions, the two volumes that form the crevasse differ in height by 700mm. This skip-floor configuration introduces a dynamic quality to movement and perspective within the home—one can look up or down as circulation unfolds. It also brings a heightened sense of connection between the first and second floors.

Photographs

Data

Crevasse Hausクレバス・ハウス

Builder Beams Construction Co., Ltd.
Kitchen KITOBITO