This minimalist Japanese home is built into a hill and features foundations at three different heights

Architecture studios SNARK and OUVI have built House in Saishikada, a wooden dwelling topped with a pitched roof in a suburban area of Midori City, Japan. Located in the middle of a high hill, on a flat site three meters above the front road, the rectangular residence overlooks the surrounding rural scenery. Inside, the house is split between two floors, while its layout arrangement forms a stacked relationship among its different functions.

The residence comprises two levels, with the ground level enclosing the kitchen, living-dining room, and bedroom, all of which are connected to the garden through several openings. This floor also includes the atelier, which appears to be floating from the side and incorporates a large window with great views of the surroundings. Small ‘bumps’ extend outwards along the long side of the rectangular plan, which are used as storage for the kitchen, bathroom, entrance porch, and other equipment. Furthermore, by designing the side walls to have an angle of 45 degrees, they become load-bearing walls, acting in both directions to protect the structure from earthquake shaking. Some load-bearing walls are placed between rooms, but there are no structural walls inside.