Mask House by CAPD is a Simple Home Overlooking a River from Japan

This house from Japan breaks away from the mold of a suburban home. It looks out over a small river to the front, and a housing development – composed of typical homes that are a clone of one another – to the rear.

The architecture studio CAPD were responsible for overseeing the design and construction of this project. They, in collaboration with the clients, produced a small but comfortable family home.

Completed in 2017 and dubbed Mask House by the designers, it covers an area of 1,237.85-square-feet (115-square-meters) and is set on a plot measuring 4,391.67-square-feet (408-square-meters). The house sits lightly on the site, this is in part due to its steel frame, which has allowed lots of large window openings to be incorporated.

The interior is finished quite simply with white walls, wooden floors and black window frames. Large windows take up the front wall of the building that overlooks the river. The other walls are more concerned with maintaining the occupants privacy and feature fewer windows.

From the architects: “The site is along the small river, crossing the bridge from the road. It is a unique site with a wild taste that distinguishes the site which is neatly divided like a housing complex. It is not summarized in white or black, and the brick and the terrace are used to harmonize with a unique site by using a rustic H-type steel.”

The main entrance leads into a corridor that connects the home’s bedrooms and living spaces. Walking northwards, you’ll gain access to each of the home’s three bedrooms – the master bedroom comes complete with a walk-in closet. If you take the eastward corridor, you’ll pass the home’s bathroom and toilet before reaching the main living space.

The main living space is an open plan room divided into a kitchen, dining area and living room. It has access to a wrap-around porch to the front, and an internal terrace to the rear. The internal terrace is used to bring light into the center of the home, providing for both the living space, and two bedrooms.

For more Japanese homes, check out House in Kumano, which mixes traditional and modern design. Or, House in Sukumo, a flexible fun family home by Container Design. See all Japanese houses.

Photos © Daisuke Shima – ad hoc inc