Terrace Step House by HUG
The floors of this house by Tokyo studio HUG are connected by the steps of a courtyard that climbs over a roof (+ slideshow).
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_3.jpg)
Starting just above ground level, the staggered terrace steps up on top of a metal-clad garage to connect the double-height living room of the residence with a first floor bedroom.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_4.jpg)
Parapet walls surround the courtyard on two sides to screen it from the street that runs along the front of the house.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_1.jpg)
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![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_2.jpg)
Photography is by Satoshi Asakawa.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_5.jpg)
The text below is from HUG:
Terrace Step House
The site is surrounded by fields and located within the comfortableness of light and wind.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_6.jpg)
Therefore, the main idea was to focus on the exterior space, and create a house holding an atmosphere of “outside” more than “inside”.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_7.jpg)
Main feature of the house is the large 50 sq m terrace steps.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_8.jpg)
The terrace steps connect the first and the second floor, and links to the living room, bedroom flatly.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_9.jpg)
The inner spaces unite with the terrace, and blends in with the outer space.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_10.jpg)
Second floor section of the terrace steps is located on top of the parking lot of the front road.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_11.jpg)
This location able to cut views from the road, but let in the light and wind into the linked living room, and create a flow throughout the outer space.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_12.gif)
The pathway of the inner and outer spaces unite by looping dimensionally, and connecting the skip-floors organically.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_13.gif)
The terrace steps are an extension of the interior, a large pathway, a stage, an open square, and a main feature of the house.
![Terrace Step House by HUG Terrace Step House by HUG](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/06/dezeen_Terrace-Step-House-by-HUG_14.gif)
This house holding the vagueness of both inner and the outer space is filled with light, wind, and the comfortable life of “outside”.