
Located in Nara, Nara Prefecture this small Japanese home was designed for a young family. The total site area is 107 sq m (1,150 sq ft), but the total living space is only 64 sq m (688 sq ft), making for a small and compact home. Built on two levels, the wooden home includes two bedrooms and a shared bathroom on the ground floor surrounding the entry way. A wooden staircase leads upstairs to an open floor plan living, dining and kitchen space.
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Mocha Architects designed the home keeping both solar passive design and privacy in mind for the residents. A large overhanging roof meets both of those objectives to shield it from the sun and create carefully constructed views through the roof. The overhanging roof also protects the home from weather and provides a shady zone underneath. The roof design and openings allow daylight in, but prevent overheating during the summer when the sun is at its highest and strongest. House AA was completed in 2013 and awarded the “5th Building Competition” Nobuaki Furuya Award.
Via Dezeen
Images ©Kai Nakamura