Shaping
Plans
By elevating the floor and adding an outdoor deck, views from the road and beach in front are blocked. From inside, only the sea and sky remain in sight, creating a private space of relaxation.
Photo by Akiyoshi Fukuzawa
This holiday house stands at the northern tip of Hyogo Prefecture, near Kinosaki Onsen, on the shore of a sea that glitters clear and bright.
While Takeno Beach next door is well known as a tourist spot, Kirihama, where the house is located, is a quieter beach favored by families and locals. Surrounded by rich nature, the site offers views of Hasakari Rock (a Hyogo Prefecture-designated scenic spot) and Yodo Cave, two key features of the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark.
The client is a company based in Kobe. As part of a new business initiative, this holiday house project was planned on land discovered by the company’s president, who has a fondness for the Sea of Japan and often visits it. The house was envisioned not only for family use but also for employee welfare and as a rental villa. Because the project was never approached as purely a business venture, the design process unfolded with a sense of enjoyment rather than a sole focus on profitability.
The name Haco-Megane was also given by the president. A *hako-megane* is a traditional fisherman’s tool for observing underwater: a wooden box in the shape of a truncated pyramid with glass set at its base. The building’s exterior, which seems to peer into the sea, evokes this image. We hope visitors can enjoy both the beauty of Kirihama’s sea and the spaces created by seki.design.
By elevating the floor and adding an outdoor deck, views from the road and beach in front are blocked. From inside, only the sea and sky remain in sight, creating a private space of relaxation.
Every window in every room was carefully considered so that residents can enjoy views of the sea and sky without concern for outside gaze.
Sunsets sinking into the horizon, Yodo Cave viewed from the bathtub, and the sea framed like a painting from the bedroom window—each moment brings a different natural scene into daily life.
The space was designed so each visitor can experience Kirihama in their own way.
The entrance deck facing the beach is equipped with an outdoor shower to rinse off sand, and a hot tub that allows guests to relax without concern for outside views. It is equally suited for leisurely reading.
The open dining-kitchen and a wide bed stretching across the full width of the window for children to enjoy are among the many features woven into the house.
| Builder | Nakagawa Komuten Co., Ltd. |
|---|
| Location | Kirihama, Takeno-cho, Toyooka City |
|---|---|
| Use | Rental villa |
| Family | ---- |
| Year | 2024 |
| Structure | Wooden / 2F |
|---|---|
| Site Area | 49.2 tsubo (≈163 m²) |
| Total Floor Area | 30.2 tsubo (≈100 m²) |
| Total Cost | --- |