Kasa Architects Create a Cool Contemporary Home for a Family in Komoro City

KASA ARCHITECTS were responsible for the construction of this one-story residential property in the city of Komoro in Japan. The house was built for a family of four (a couple and their two children).

The project, which is simply titled after it’s location – House Komoro, was completed in 2017. It sports views of mountains to both the north and the south, and features a central a large garden/courtyard for the family to enjoy.

The house is set on a plot of land measuring 4,843.76-square-feet (450-square-meters). Less than a quarter of this space is taken up by the house. It has an area of 1,194.79-square-feet (111-square-meters), spread out across the L-shaped building. Given the available space, the architect opted for a single-story dwelling, with a maximum height of 13.78-feet (4.2-meters).

The house is set in a prime location – it sports view of Mount Asama to the north, and the Yatsugatake mountains to the south. Focus was placed on capturing these mountains from the window openings. However, overall the architect aimed to create a building that was in harmony with the environment, and would “achieve a design for people’s lives to flourish”.

On the inside of the house, large timber rafters adorn the ceilings. Wood is a common theme throughout the home, with it being used on the floors, for furniture and cabinetry, and as partition walls. The interior is finished in a minimalist fashion; clutter has been kept to a minimum, and rooms are sparsely furnished.

The two wings of the house are separated into public and private spaces. The public wing contains a large open plan living room, dining area and kitchen. There’s also an entryway and some ancillary storage closets. The private wing contains three bedrooms with a corridor of closets. The intersection between the two wings is dedicated to the bathroom and sanitary room.

All in all, it’s a pretty elegant solution to the challenges proposed by the clients and the site restrictions. From the architect: “With a design that fulfills various considerations such as comfort and openness, this house also embodies architectural elements that awaken people’s imaginations.”

For more Japanese houses check out Roof and Rectangular House by Jun Igarashi. Or, Kouichi Kimura’s serene home for a photographer. See all Japanese houses.

Photos © Ikunori Yamamoto