A House Made of Two / naf architect & design

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

Architects: Akio Nakasa / naf architect & design
Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Program: single family residence
Site area: 250.21 sqm
Building area: 105.88 sqm
Total floor area: 179.11 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

This is a project of one family living in two houses built slightly apart from one another.

One great volume of a house which covers the entire plot was supposed first.

model diagrams

sections

Then this volume was carved in a curve in three segments and two volumes at the both ends were built as two houses on the site.

The wood structures and finishing materials of two houses are standardized to emphasis the relations of two volumes being originally from “one great volume” and that they are one though apart. Carved volume in the middle became a courtyard leading to the approach to two houses.

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

Having another house for movies at night, overnight guests or work at home allows the inhabitants the liberty to do what they please at a time they want.  This distance between two houses may be just right for inviting grandparents to move in someday or providing privacy to children at puberty.

© Toshiyuki Yano / Nacasa & Partners

The purpose of building two houses slightly apart is not the same as that of having a villa at a resort or a farm household having a main building and a barn.

This project is an experiment for allowing more life style options in the life based in the urban area.