A Life Framed by Three Changing Views

This project involved rebuilding a residence on the hillside of Ashiya.

In planning, we studied the site’s history and topography, as well as how the client had lived in the previous house and how its rooms were arranged. The result is a “house on a hill with three gardens,” designed to optimize wind flow, sunlight, views, and circulation.

Outline

A residence planned on a large 338-tsubo site (≈1,118 m²).
Three gardens, each designed for different scenes of daily life.
The living-dining-kitchen (LDK) is proposed as a sofa-free, open style.

Shaping

Site Analysis

Plans

Site plan

1F

2F

Features

Garden on the hill

Located directly in front of the LDK, this garden connects seamlessly through a large wooden sash opening measuring 7.3 m × 2.6 m high. It creates a space that naturally invites one outdoors, where breezes pass through and distant sea views open up.

Garden with stone walls
and natural stones

The design inherits and reinterprets the former Japanese garden. The maple trees recall those of the original setting. Against the backdrop of a traditional stone wall, natural stones create subtle undulations in the ground, forming a landscape. From the *washitsu* (Japanese-style tatami room), framed by *yukimi shoji* (sliding paper doors with a low viewing panel), one can enjoy the landscape along with the silhouettes of maple leaves cast by moonlight.

Light court

As its name suggests, this court brings light and air into the residence. It also offers visual delight when moving along the corridor.

Sofa-free LDK

A relaxed style was proposed by placing *tetra* beanbag cushions directly on the floor, instead of using a sofa. This allows the space to feel more expansive and adaptable for various uses.