Site Size: 2,333 square feet Project Size: 1,023 square feet Program: The architects sought to create a unique two-bedroom residence for a family of four. Location: The house is located on the corner of a suburban Kyoto street. Solution: The architect drew inspiration from the tale of 'The Blind Men and the Elephant' in developing the house's diverse material palette. The story describes how, when you touch an elephant in darkness, you could feel a tree trunk, snake, fan, etc. Similarly, the house would provide a variety of sensations for its residents. The exterior of the squat, gabled structure is

Site size: 3,879 square feet Project size: 1,470 square feet Program: A couple sought a home that could accommodate children or possibly elderly parents as well as their extensive collection of books. Location: The steeply sloping suburban site consists of a deep rocky substrate and two large hardwood trees. Solution: Shogo Aratani Architect & Associates determined that the site's extreme beauty represented an opportunity for the house to adapt and flourish. The two-floor house is fundamentally two main rectilinear volumes angled away from a central triangular stair. Two parking spaces, just below the first floor, are cut directly from the

A family sought a light-filled residence on a sloped site in southern Japan with a design incorporating the lush greenery below.