Shaping
Site Analysis
Plans
This project involves the renovation of a residence and the addition of an outdoor living room, located in a quiet residential area where the sky opens wide.
The client’s home stands on a hill with an excellent overlooking view. Having lived for many years on the U.S. West Coast, the client had experienced the lifestyle of actively enjoying the outdoors and found it highly appealing. While the Japanese climate may limit such use to a shorter season, the client hoped to embrace the remarkable view, light, and breeze by incorporating them into daily living.
The house itself is a Western-style imported home. With a spacious garden, the plan called for the addition of an outdoor living room there.
Yet, simply placing a pavilion in the open yard would not make it function as a true outdoor living room. For example, if it were to serve as a dining spot, difficult access from the kitchen would diminish its usability. Thus, the plan included renovating the main house so that the new outdoor living room could be seamlessly integrated as an extension of the original living-dining-kitchen (LDK).
The long east–west garden also acts as an axis of airflow along the slope of the hill, so care was taken not to block this natural flow. At the same time, the addition had to avoid darkening the interior of the main house. Since structural constraints prevented altering wall positions or opening sizes, ingenuity beyond layout modification was required.
The project title is “Re: Stone Garden Living.”
By placing the outdoor living room, the wide garden was divided into two distinct areas: the sloping east side, named the slope garden, and the level west side, named the active garden. The 13.5-tatami outdoor living room was positioned to enjoy both. In the main house, the formerly separate kitchen was reconfigured into a dining-kitchen, becoming the hub that links directly to the outdoor living room. The proposal sought to build upon the existing potential of the house, inheriting what should remain while drawing out new qualities.
Breakfast in the morning sun, or everyday cooking with a full-scale BBQ set—both become part of daily life here. The design encourages a lifestyle of actively enjoying the outdoor living room.
- Outline
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- Renovation of a Western-style imported house on a hill with fine views, plus an addition of an outdoor living room.
- The spacious garden was divided into two parts by placing the outdoor living room, giving each a distinct role.
- The outdoor living room was designed as a continuous extension of the LDK, while ensuring natural airflow and daylight for the main house.
- The kitchen was reconfigured into a dining-kitchen, serving as a hub that connects to the outdoor living room.
- The design modernized the original style while maintaining a sense of unity.
Features
Outdoor living room
embracing light, wind, and view
The design of the outdoor living room reinterprets the classic Western style of the imported house with a modern touch. Its thick walls, built as if from real stone, and the rhythmic repetition of exposed rafters create a distinctive presence. To minimize any loss of light to the main house, about half of the roof was made of glass, allowing soft daylight to filter through and cast delicate shadows inside.
On the east side lies the slope garden with its view, while to the west extends the active garden, also serving as a dog run. To the south, a brick wall provides privacy from the neighboring house, enabling a relaxed atmosphere.
LDK with fireplace
The living room was renovated while making full use of the Western-style character and wooden flooring of the original imported home. As a new element of comfort, an ethanol fireplace was installed at its center, clad in the same brick tile used for the outdoor living room to give a sense of cohesion.
In the dining-kitchen, a custom dining table was placed so that meals can be enjoyed while looking out at the bright, open outdoor living room. This enriches the experience of indoor dining as well.
Photographs
Data
Re: Stone Garden Living北摂・石積みのアウトドアリビングの家 Re:
| Builder | Susuki Komuten Co., Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | BAROS |
| Location | Hokusetsu region, Osaka |
|---|---|
| Use | Private residence |
| Family | Couple |
| Year | 2024 |
| Structure | Wooden / 2F (renovation) |
|---|---|
| Site Area | 172 tsubo (≈568 m²) |
| Total Floor Area | Existing 46.6 tsubo (≈154 m²) + Extension 6.3 tsubo (≈21 m²) |
| Total Cost | 35 million JPY (including exterior wall painting and landscaping) |