Article source: Horibe Naoko Architect Office

This lot is bordered by a road on the west and boxed in by houses on the south, north, and east. Houses will also be built across the road to the west, so our main challenge was securing adequate privacy and natural light. As a result, we decided to design the building around a central courtyard. Although the facade appears monolithic from the street, the instant the front door is opened one is confronted by an open, light-filled courtyard. The plan on the first and second floors allows residents to circle around the courtyard as they move from room to room, almost as if they were going for a walk within their own home.

Court in the night (Image Courtesy Kaori Ichikawa)

• Architects: Horibe Naoko Architect Office
• Project: House in Hatsugano
• Location:Izumi-Shi, OSAKA
• Design to completion: March 2009-April 2010
• Primary usage: Residence

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