Houzz Tour: A Hilltop House in Japan Stays Close to Nature
Long sightlines through roof trusses to the outdoors foster a sense of connectedness
On a quiet hill in the Tokyo suburb of Fujisawa City, a house nestles in nature. The lot on which it stands was the last to remain untouched since the residential development took shape 40 years ago. The sloping green land to the east and the south is owned by the city government and probably will remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future.
The hilltop with panoramic views was the ideal location for the owners, who wanted nature to be a constant presence in their home. Their wish is reflected in the design of the house, with its simple outline of a chimney rising above two gable roofs, and the long sightlines inside and out.
The hilltop with panoramic views was the ideal location for the owners, who wanted nature to be a constant presence in their home. Their wish is reflected in the design of the house, with its simple outline of a chimney rising above two gable roofs, and the long sightlines inside and out.
When architects Katsutoshi and Noriko Naoi of Naoi Architecture & Design Office visited the site, they envisioned a simple cottage — in other words, a wooden structure with a gabled roof — embedded in the landscape.
The 2,641-square-foot lot has a pentagon shape on a gentle slope. To make the most of these features, the architects came up with a home with two interconnected wings to the north and the south. Viewed from outside, the two structures have a playful appearance: one large and one small, slightly askew and overlapping.
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The 2,641-square-foot lot has a pentagon shape on a gentle slope. To make the most of these features, the architects came up with a home with two interconnected wings to the north and the south. Viewed from outside, the two structures have a playful appearance: one large and one small, slightly askew and overlapping.
Find an architect to design your home
Walls finished in a combination of gray plaster and antique brick are a good fit with the verdant surroundings. Plants in concrete and black planters subtly block the view from the road.
The front door is just inside the covered entrance area, out of sight of the road. The architects built the door on-site out of antique boards. Its custom steel handle complements the antique wood. These touches, along with the industrial-style bracket light and the brick wall, come together to create a space with a charmingly European feel.
Browse industrial-style wall lights
Browse industrial-style wall lights
The interior is bright and open. “The cathedral ceiling and exposed roof trusses make a more open space,” Katsutoshi says.
Roof trusses inlaid with glass fill the dining and kitchen area with natural light that pours in from both north and south, making this space delightful in the morning and the afternoon.
Roof trusses inlaid with glass fill the dining and kitchen area with natural light that pours in from both north and south, making this space delightful in the morning and the afternoon.
The owners wanted a modern-rustic feel. To reflect their laid-back lifestyle, wide solid oak planks and exposed concrete flooring combine with subway tiles and other materials with a rough and simple feel. Tactile touches like plants complete the effect.
The all-white walls and ceilings reflect light to every corner, while the exposed roof trusses and dark gray-framed windows tie the space together.
Since wood suggests a more traditional Japanese interior and brings log cabins to mind, Katsutoshi instead selected thin steel trusses. Steel is also a good fit with the delicate look of the interior.
The custom windows’ grid pattern showcases the scenery outside. “Making the architecture a filter for observing nature is a way to incorporate the landscape — which is what makes the location so special — into the home. That’s why we chose lattice windows,” Katsutoshi says.
Since wood suggests a more traditional Japanese interior and brings log cabins to mind, Katsutoshi instead selected thin steel trusses. Steel is also a good fit with the delicate look of the interior.
The custom windows’ grid pattern showcases the scenery outside. “Making the architecture a filter for observing nature is a way to incorporate the landscape — which is what makes the location so special — into the home. That’s why we chose lattice windows,” Katsutoshi says.
Designed by kitchen specialist Tacti, the kitchen matches the modern-rustic interior style. At 3 feet, 7 inches high, the oak veneer counter partially screens the kitchen from view.
The area behind the refrigerator and cabinet is a semiconcealed housekeeping space, which doubles as a pantry.
The area behind the refrigerator and cabinet is a semiconcealed housekeeping space, which doubles as a pantry.
On the far end of the kitchen-dining room, the bathroom gets soft ambient light. Family members can enjoy a relaxing bath with a view of the nature outside.
Take Cues From Japan for a Zen-Like Bathroom
Take Cues From Japan for a Zen-Like Bathroom
The home’s architecture creates a number of spacious but cozy spots. The south wing is a roomy open space with a 16-foot ceiling at its highest point. The design takes advantage of the terrain, with part of wing sinking up to 1½ feet below the ground. Sitting at the kitchen counter to enjoy a meal affords a generous view of the landscape in front of the home. The depth of this floor puts the greenery at eye level, making observers feel as if they’re floating.
The north wing has two stories, with the living room on the bottom floor and the bedrooms, children’s room and other private spaces above.
The wing’s floor is about a foot above the ground, making the living room almost 2½ feet higher than the dining room. Although there are no walls or doors in between, the height difference is a kind of divider.
The living room ceiling is only
about 7½ feet high, which creates a different mood in this space. The steps between the levels also serve as casual seating for the dining area.
The wing’s floor is about a foot above the ground, making the living room almost 2½ feet higher than the dining room. Although there are no walls or doors in between, the height difference is a kind of divider.
The living room ceiling is only
about 7½ feet high, which creates a different mood in this space. The steps between the levels also serve as casual seating for the dining area.
The children’s room on the second floor of the north wing is a secluded space with a loft-like feel. Sightlines through the windows of the children’s room and the dining room in the other wing create a cohesive family atmosphere.
Looking north from the loft above the south-wing bathroom provides a view of the children’s room through the glass panels of the roof trusses. This perspective shows just how deftly this large space is tied together.
Several patios — one outside the dining room, one next to the bathroom — offer good spots from which to enjoy the surrounding greenery.
In the same way, the mortar-finished concrete floors of the hallways seem to naturally extend to the space outside. Large windows bring in light and air.
In the same way, the mortar-finished concrete floors of the hallways seem to naturally extend to the space outside. Large windows bring in light and air.
Taken together, these features foster a sense of oneness with the outdoors, as the home provides a man-made vantage point from which to gaze upon nature.
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More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A married couple and their two children
Location: Fujisawa City, Japan, about 40 miles southwest of Tokyo
Size: 1,606 square feet (149 square meters)
Architect: Naoi Architecture & Design Office