SATOSHI OKADA
ARCHITECTS

This design is defined by intersections; the four cores establish the main areas of the residence while their interstitial spaces determine secondary areas. While the variations in floor level distinguish the functions of these spaces, the continuous ceiling shelters all rooms equally, reestablishing the unity of the house under a common canopy.

Secluded gardens are demarcated by the intersections of the outer walls and the vertical projection of the roof on the site, bringing daylight and fresh air into the interior space, and ultimately blurring the boundary between in and out. The main bathroom, for instance, directly faces its dedicated garden, enclosed within walls for further privacy.

Structurally, the roof consists of a thin steel structure supported by two circular columns. The concrete walls absorb tectonic movement, offering stability to the whole building. With this support, the glass facades can be purely manipulated in aesthetic terms. To accommodate the characteristic sulfuric air of the hot-spring region, mullions were sized as slender timber to use in place of metal sashes to prevent rust. The house was finished with marble tiles and oiled parquet flooring according to the function of each space.