This is a residence designed for a family of four.
Located in the northern city of Sapporo, the site is compact and closely surrounded on three sides by neighboring houses. In response to these conditions, we sought to formulate an archetypal solution that would reinterpret and enrich the unique qualities of northern light—bringing it into the interior in a manner unlike any conventional house, amplifying and transforming it in dynamic ways.
As a result, the house provides a spatial experience where the family can choose from a variety of atmospheres that evoke a distinctive sense of shared presence and spatial distance. These range from what might be called an “internalized exterior” to an “externalized interior.” The sectional configuration in the part of the site surrounded on three sides by adjacent residences was uniquely composed to allow for the reflection and interaction of incoming light.
Each window is strategically positioned to avoid direct views from surrounding houses. On the ground floor, windows open toward the garden surrounding the building, while on the upper floor, they are oriented upward. Notably, the second-floor windows are conceived as high-side lights, segmented into two tiers: one guides light directly into the children’s room, while the other brings light that follows the slope of the indoor pitched roof covering the room. This composition allows the light to interact within the space, creating a dynamic interplay of layered and ever-shifting patterns of illumination throughout the dwelling.