On a sloped plot of land in Yokohama, houses tower over the retaining wall on southern edge. On the eastern edge, a house juts against the site. In the winter, there is little sunlight, especially on the ground floor. Therefore, we designed a house that maximized the comfort of each season by setting the sunniest second floor as the "winter living room" and part of the cool shadowy first floor as the "summer living room".
Facing the southeast, which has the most sunshine, we arranged three floors that rise like terraces toward the light. It is in this direction that we placed the “winter living room” to take advantage of this most effective light. The living room reflects our comprehension of the history of the development of this site, and the character of this land’s sunlight. It is a gesture towards the results of the search for the best light in this terraced spot. Complete with the possibility for a loft to be made in the future, this spacious room connects the family with a view.
The “summer living room” appears below the back of the second-floor terrace and acts as a place between indoors and outdoors. Formed by the gable above, this multipurpose room makes space for the many outdoor activities of this nature loving family. Also, this open airy room below the eaves connects the surrounding environment with the family, providing an open and relaxing place for exchange even during these pandemic times. The room at the back of the first floor can be opened and closed using a movable partition allowing for privacy when closed. When open it brings the room in dialogue with the shaded garden, creating a place of connection with the surroundings.
In the "winter living room" and the "summer living room," duct fans adjust seasonally in order optimize the thermal environment for each season.