Dezeen Magazine

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

This small faceted house by Japanese studios D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m is embedded in a steep slope overlooking the city of Nagoya (+ slideshow).

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

The architects excavated into the hill to level the site and created a large living room on the sunken floor.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

The front door leads onto a upper deck suspended across the breadth of the house, where metal stairs lead down to the level below.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

There are no windows on the street-facing elevations, but a glazed wall spans the back of the house and slides open onto a terrace with more faceted walls.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Photography is by Tomohiro Sakashita.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Here's some more information from D.I.G Architects:


K House

A small house located on a steep slanting slope. The client simply wanted a life with a blessing of nature nearby and the beautiful townscape in distant.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Left only with a very narrow flat part which is barely enough for a car, the site was steeply sloped down, almost like a cliff.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

We first had an idea to excavate the ground to generate a living space. Corresponding the nature form, heterogeneous and flexible space would retrieve the enchantment of the site.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Not a house constructed on a cliff, but a habitat generated by the nature form of the cliff. A habitat like a pit or a shed later discovered in the terrains of landscape.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

So we dig the earth to make the "floor". Then a "sail" was set on that dent.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Site plan

The structural image of the generation of this "sail" is that the closed and self-contained systems, like a polyhedron or a sphere, came down to the site and was spread up through anchoring to the earth.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Upper floor plan – click above for larger image

Now we've got a certain volume on a steeply slanting surface wrapped with a pitted earth and the sail-like tent on top. Then we put a flat and straight deck bridging the vacant space.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Lower floor plan – click above for larger image

There's no function assigned for this deck for the moment. But you might have moments in the life surrounded and protected by the earth that you need a place detached from the ground.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

Section – click above for larger image

There's no partition dividing space, but level differences by a deck and a pit that generate characteristics for the empty space. The uses are not regulated except the bathroom.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

North elevation

You think how to use while in use, through the direct feeling to your body.

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

East elevation

Design: Akinori Yoshimura + Maki Yoshimura/D.I.G Architects, Nawa Kenji/Nawakenji-m
Complete: December 2011

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

South elevation

Collaborator: (structural design) Nawa Kenji/Nawakenji-m
Area: total 89.4m2

K House by D.I.G Architects and Nawakenji-m

West elevation