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作品写真

The site occupies a corner of a quiet neighborhood under an open sky. Although subdivision has progressed in recent years and conventional houses have increased, the area was originally lined with large estate homes. In this context, we proposed a single-story timber residence—a large house with a building area and a total floor area each 49 tsubo (≈ 162 m²).

Our first priority in planning was to create an outdoor space with complete privacy from the surroundings. Taking advantage of the ample site, we arranged a courtyard at the center of the building. Because the house is single-story, the courtyard can admit light even in winter, resulting in a more favorable environment.

The courtyard continues directly from the living-dining-kitchen (LDK). Measures for shading strong summer sun, a roof or parasol for rain, and fixed furniture such as a sofa and table blur the boundary between outside and inside, encouraging people to step outdoors naturally. It is neither a garden to look at nor an exposed terrace used only a few times a year; it is an extension of the living room—a new kind of outdoor space: an outdoor living room. Adding this 20-tatami outdoor living area to the 29-tatami LDK yields a family gathering space of roughly 50 tatami in total.

Considering the surrounding context, site conditions, interior space, streetscape, and courtyard privacy comprehensively led to a roof that coils around the courtyard in plan like a snail. This is the origin of the name “Snail Haus.”

Outline
  • A single-story home planned on a large 93-tsubo site.
  • A central courtyard admits light while preserving privacy from the surroundings.
  • The courtyard connects to the LDK, forming a continuous space totaling about 50 tatami.
  • A piece of Architectural furniture serves as a symbol of the house and introduces spatial variety within the LDK.

Shaping

Site Analysis

direction

Site analysis—open for view, close for privacy.

Plans

direction

1F Floor Plan
section + 2F Floor Plan

Features

A living area of
about fifty tatami

The courtyard becomes a wood-decked outdoor living room continuous with the LDK. By softening the boundary between outside and inside, the design encourages a natural flow from the LDK to the exterior. Together with the 29-tatami LDK, the total space comes to about 50 tatami.

Shaping space with
Architectural furniture

Within the broad, high-ceilinged LDK, a piece of Architectural furniture acts as a symbol of the house. It functions as a bookcase, a koagari (a step-up raised-floor seating nook), a kotatsu (a low, heated table used with floor seating) with a backrest, and a structure that creates a loft.

The piece was designed as if carving into a “mass of bookcase.” In the small grotto-like space created by carving, we placed a kotatsu. Gathering closely as a family or with friends is part of a kotatsu’s appeal; for that, this low-ceilinged, modestly sized nook is well suited. Although the LDK is expansive, providing a place where one can settle in quietly introduces a different register to the space.

Parts of the bookcase become display shelves, a recessed TV, steps, or closed storage with doors—allowing various functions to be added.

Photographs

Data

Snail Hausかたつむりの家

Builder Beams Construction Co., Ltd.
Kitchen Lixil / Richelle SI