House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki Architects
Y-shaped wooden columns support rooms and lofts at different levels inside this family house in Matsudo, Japan, by Hiroyuki Shinozaki Architects (+ slideshow).
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_10.jpg)
A total of eight columns stretch up to the roof of the house, overlapping one another to support a spilt-level first floor containing two bedrooms and a traditional Japanese room, as well as three separate lofts overhead.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_5.jpg)
The living room, dining room and kitchen are all located on the ground floor and are loosely separated into different zones by the gridded layout of the columns.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_8.jpg)
"Although the whole house is just one space under big roof, it is divided loosely with Y-shaped frames and floorboards," said Hiroyuki Shinozaki.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_7.jpg)
"I hope that the family uses the structure of the house in their daily life," the architect added. "For example, people hanging pictures and figures from Y-shaped frames and marking the height of their child on it. And they will leave the trail of their life on the house like a well-thumbed book."
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_12.jpg)
A wooden staircase leads up to the split-level first floor, while ladders connect each of these rooms with the lofts directly above.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_14.jpg)
Flooring and furniture throughout the house is also wooden, matching the timber columns.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_2.jpg)
The roof of the house runs parallel with the angled wooden braces, as do the windows on the gabled facade.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_15.jpg)
An L-shaped terrace is positioned at the back of the building and wraps around the rear of the dining area.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_9.jpg)
Hiroyuki Shinozaki has completed two other houses named after letters of the alphabet in the last year. House K features a skinny west wing, while House T has huge rectangular holes in the walls and floors.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_11.jpg)
See more architecture by Hiroyuki Shinozaki Architects, including a cafe filled with courtyard gardens.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_6.jpg)
See all our stories about houses in Japan »
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_1.jpg)
Photography is by Fumihiko Ikemoto.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_13.jpg)
Here's some project details from the architect:
House H
Client: family
Location: Chiba, Japan
Site area: 161.82 sq m
Built area: 64.02 sq m (39.56%)
Gross floor area: 115.41 sq m (71.31%)
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_3.jpg)
Completion date: Dec 2012
Structure: Wood Flame, 2 story
Maximum height: 7.96 m
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_16.jpg)
Project Team: Hiroyuki Shinozaki, Sota Matsuura, Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio
Structure engineer: Tatsumi Terado Structural Studio
Contractor: Hirohashi Komuten Lo.,Ltd.
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_26.gif)
Above: site plan
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_17.gif)
Above: ground floor plan - click above for larger image
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_18.gif)
Above: first floor plan - click above for larger image
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_23.gif)
Above: long section - click above for larger image
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_24.gif)
Above: cross section one
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_25.gif)
Above: cross section two
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_21.gif)
Above: east elevation
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_19.gif)
Above: north elevation
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_22.gif)
Above: west elevation
![House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki House H by Hiroyuki Shinozaki](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2013/01/dezeen_House-H-by-Hiroyuki-Shinozaki_20.gif)
Above: south elevation