House in Oda

A Roofed Dwelling Spanning a Small Hill
This house was planned in Ōda City, Shimane Prefecture, in a tranquil setting near the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, where gentle hills unfold amid a rural landscape. The site is shaped like a small hill, with its crest divided into two levels—an upper and a lower terrace. Rather than leveling this distinctive topography through earthwork, the design embraces the natural undulations of the hill, spanning them with a single, large roof.
The building is a single-story residence for a couple, conceived as a continuous space containing a variety of places to inhabit. While areas are separated by glass, sightlines and light gently interweave, and variations in ceiling height and the placement of openings lend each zone its own character.
The LDK and bedroom are fitted with a series of connected windows that respond to the surrounding landscape. Low walls beneath the windows provide both openness and a calm sense of inwardness. In the loft, a large opening not only frames the view but also creates a place to spend time while gazing at the mountain ridges and the moon. These windows serve not only for daylight and views, but also as paths for airflow, allowing breezes that sweep across the hilltop to pass through the house.
Over time, the vegetation on the hill will grow and gradually envelop the base of the building in greenery. The architecture will come to settle into the land, forming a scene as if a large roof had been gently placed upon the hill itself.