Airhole House / Masahiro Kinoshita – KINO Architects

Architect: Masahiro Kinoshita – KINO Architects
Location: Shiga, Japan
Principal use: Private residence
Structure: Wooden
Scale of building: 2 stories
Site area: 98.49 sqm
Building area: 58.97 sqm
Total floor area: 98.74 sqm
Completion: 2010
Photographs: Daici Ano

This house is in a residential area in Shiga prefecture. It is for a four person family; a married couple with two children. To the south there is a major road, to the east is a minor road, to the west is a field and the neighboring house is to the north.

The main volume of the two stories was dictated by the shape of the site and the distance from the neighbor to the north. When this volume was defined an air hole was opened east-west on the first floor and north-south on the second floor. The first floor air hole was opened to allow easy garage access from the road. Additionally, it afforded a view of the west field when approaching from the east.

The second floor air hole provides a large, deep terrace and LDK. The wind passes through from a small north window to the dining and living room; it come out through the big south window leading to the terrace. Thanks to the air hole, there can be a bright LDK, with a pleasant view over the street trees. The air hole and deep terrace design is cool in the summer and warm in the winter sunshine.