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Ground and above Roof House by SpaceSpace

By Eric Meunier

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Japanese studio SpaceSpace has designed the Ground and above Roof House project.

This two story contemporary home is located in a residential area in Ibaraki, a city in Osaka, Japan.

Ground and above Roof House by SpaceSpace

“A house situated in the residential area and near railway station and is built on the corner lot located one lot behind the main street. The house site borders the streets on the north and the east, and in the east (a longer adjacent to the street) there are a T-junction and an open car park on a culvert. This is an area of having a peculiar atmosphere of openness, where signboards and pot plants stick out into the street and there are many long-term residents, who are often seen chatting on the street. This house site is a gspecial spot of district designated under the zoning regulationh, as there is a change in the zoning near the border of the next-door house site, which enable the house to be built slightly higher than the next-door house of the south.

Under such surroundings, a two-story wooden house is built. With the view to creating living space linked with lively atmosphere, there are only a hall and a hill on the first floor which leads to the street, while the second floor is taken a good distance from busy street and its roof is lifting higher than the neighboring ones which enables the first floor to receive enough sunlight. In winter the kamakura-shaped hill with a bathroom inside can store solar heat gathered through a large window located upper south part on the first floor. It can also be functioned as various living goods such as a sofa when facing a TV, a verandah when sitting from the outside with a window open, a screen from the entrance, a storehouse and a play place for children.

The bedrooms on the second floor are minimum size so the hall is used for all activities other than sleeping such as study or reading. From the second floor window a roof top view different from the view from the first floor window opens up.

The space linked up with functions of the house and the movement of wind, heat, living, people and goods may only be called gtwo-story wooden househ at present. However, it is different from the usual one because there is no appropriate name for this space so far.

Heating Environment

In winter sunlight collected from the large windows located under the slab of the second floor and upper south part on the first floor designed for receiving sun light and solar heat is stored in the concrete hill. The position of slab and the height of the hill is determined with reference to the sunfs altitude in its lowest season and the eaves location of the next door house. Floor heating is installed on the concrete hill and the flat area to prepare for days not suitable for heat storage or for the area where the sunfs rays do not strike due to the seasonal reason. In summer the sunlight and the heat are shut up by an electric blind and the heat is stored between windows, which will be released from the roof through the slit on the second floor and from the upper part of the second floor window through ventilation space acquired by installing double wall in the north and south. In winter the ventilation space can be heat storage and provide warmth through air inlet.

Hill Cover

The hill cover is designed as a set of the hill as measures to deal with the regeneration risk of concrete and slow start-up of the floor heating. The cloth commonly used for sofa is sewn in two-ply and urethane is placed in the cushion, which improves heat storage and durability. Rather than using a draping, plane form is used for making a three-dimensional curved surface of the hill. It is designed by using a drawing and a model and finally measurements are taken by using sample cloth.

Pockets on the cover can be used for holding mobile phones, remote controls or newspapers and if needed more pockets can be easily installed.”

First Level
Second Level

Photos courtesy of SpaceSpace
Source: Arthitectural

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About Eric Meunier

Currently the Owner and Chief Executive of HODYO Design, Eric Meunier's expertise in the design industry spreads over 20 years. He was the driving force behind HomeDSGN's early success, founding this website in 2011. Today, he loves to channel his passion for design into remodeling houses and transforming interior spaces with his keen eye for detail and architectural finesse. Learn more about HomeDSGN's Editorial Process.

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