Stair House / y+Mdo

Nov 2010

Uploaded by Kelly Minner — Filed under: Featured ,Houses ,Selected , Japan, Oda-City, Shimane-Pref, y+Mdo

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Courtesy of y+Mdo

The owners of the Stair House are are a young couple, both teachers, with two young children. When they hired architects y+Mdo to design their dream home, they had three key themes in mind; A house that could protect their privacy, provided warm and bright space, and could also encourage the gathering of people as they love their students visiting them.

For more photographs and details of the Stair House follow the break.

Architects: y+Mdo
Location: Oda-City, Shimane-Pref, Japan
Project Area: 142.66 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of y+Mdo

Courtesy of y+Mdo

The property is located at seaside, and in the winter months suffers from the strong, cold sea wind and a short number of daylight hours. To the south of the property there is a 3 meter wide road and a 4 meter high bank leading to open ground. From the West is a combination of strong direct sunshine and sea wind. To the North is a road to the local village and to the East lies a two-storey house. The architects response to the site challenges and keeping the interests of their clients in mind the design result was a stair shaped house.

diagram

To allow sunlight into the house, there are a number of glass slits in between the steps on the south side. The glass slits provide a dual purpose of vision connection and natural light along with privacy. The material used for the stair shaped wall are porcelain tiles and require low maintenance.

Courtesy of y+Mdo

The outside structure links the garden to the rooftop and the inside of the house links a private porch/reception/lounge area to the bedrooms. The windows are designed and situated to allow in as much sunlight as possible, whilst retaining privacy.

Courtesy of y+Mdo

Additionally, the Stair House allowed both daylight and ventilation to penetrate into its interior. In summer, the house has a nice breeze blowing through the small garden situated on the south side and removes heat through ventilation fans on the north side. The slit windows eliminate direct sunshine, however provides indirect reflected light into the house.

thermal diagram

In winter, this design keeps the house warm by allowing the maximum amount of sunlight into the house in addition to the comforting warmth from the under floor heating and a wood-fire.

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: Courtesy of y+Mdo

: diagram

: thermal diagram

: floor plans

: site plan

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

Cite:
Minner , Kelly . "Stair House / y+Mdo" 02 Nov 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 26 May 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/84612>

Comments (14)
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godryk says:

Nice project. However, as constructive critique, I must say that a project that is crealy based on section design should provide section drawings (“diagrams” are not architectural drawings but marketing). This is the first thing a teacher would say: No sections? Come tomorrow with some. Nevertheless, nice one.

# November 2, 2010 at 07:26

yeah says:

Villa Malaparte is still much better!

# November 2, 2010 at 07:35

nay says:

i beg to disagree, this house is at least at par with it

# November 2, 2010 at 22:28

FG says:

Its nice to see a house with inhabitants, books and landscaping in place – it looks like a fun house to grow up in (though that tile looks like it might be slippery). I bet all the neighborhood kids will be playing there. Unfortunately, it would probably never pass muster in the States for that chimney (which would be worked around) or with lenders for the size (or perceived resale)…

# November 2, 2010 at 11:46

up_today_arch says:

Outside views are promising… but inside is regular building… But very nice indeed…

# November 2, 2010 at 15:12

cmarin says:

Looks really nice, the problem is the distribution of the spaces, what about the toilet. If you want to take a shower… do you need to go down stairs???

The problem is that the interior is a waste… the exterior is nice

# November 2, 2010 at 19:44

tDA says:

I suppose someone had to do it…

# November 3, 2010 at 01:22

NØRD says:

I think the concept of this house is a bit strange. A house like this needs a really good view, I reckon …like Villa Malaparte …I find the view from the top of the stairs a bit random and not very inspiring.

I also find the detailing a bit funny. Think the black ‘flower-frames’ at the entrance could have been integrated a bit better. And inside I think the big space looks nice, but the ‘wavy’ cut in the wall to the rest of the house is again a bit weird.

# November 3, 2010 at 05:17

Unlocker JailBreak says:

Just thought I would comment and say great theme, did you code it on your own? Really looks really good!

# November 6, 2010 at 18:07

HiddenKnowledge says:

Hahaha, I was thinking about a house like this some time ago..
Someone actually was nuts enough to make such a house xD

# December 1, 2010 at 07:57

kate says:

my questios is just one, hwta is going to happen when it is rain?

# December 21, 2010 at 09:08

Lawerence Krupke says:

Thanks for helping out, fantastic information.

# December 22, 2010 at 23:34

behnaz ahmadi says:

I my self like this dream and funny house..but i think its not comfortable for living

# January 8, 2012 at 13:26

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# February 7, 2012 at 16:26

11:00 AM Nov 2nd

Erik Joya

Stair House / y+Mdo: Courtesy of y+Mdo The owners of the Stair House are are a young couple… http://goo.gl/fb/YrFqv

11:06 AM Nov 2nd

Bocetos Digitales

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DEZIGN

Stair House / y+Mdo: Courtesy of y+MdoThe owners of the Stair House are are a young couple, both teachers, with tw… http://bit.ly/aWVQWL

11:10 AM Nov 2nd

Dammy Lee

@iso_023 아이소 이거봐, 너 북촌에다 햇던 계단집 생각나. @ArchDaily
Stair House / y+Mdo http://archdai.ly/c6vRXg #architecture