This is a small house situated in a corner of a small town located between the Shinkansen line extending from JR Okayama Station and two conventional rail lines. Nearby lies the Nishikawa Greenway, which runs through the heart of Okayama City, and on the north side of the lot, across a waterway, is a small amusement park planted with cherry trees—an environment enveloped by water and greenery. The view of the town that opened up from the small section of the lot bordering the street at the corner, which I saw when I first visited the site, still remains etched in my memory. The view extending toward the park and under the Shinkansen viaduct, and the open space created by the intersection of the front roads leading east and south—I was captivated by the atmosphere, which felt just like a small pocket park. Keeping that impression in mind, I began the design with the intention of seamlessly connecting the living space to these open spaces within the town.

The building was positioned toward the southwest corner of the lot, with the intentionally preserved open space surrounding the residence, aiming to draw the outdoor environment into the home. The first floor houses the dining and living areas along with the wet areas, while the second floor is designated for sleeping. By creating a mezzanine level above the wet areas—where the ceiling height is lowered—to connect the first and second floors, the design achieves both the separation and continuity of the various rooms using a minimal number of partition walls. This intermediate level has a culvert-like depth, connecting to the wall of the neighboring house on the west and to the open space along the road on the east. Meanwhile, on the first floor, an L-shaped opening extending from the entrance faces outward, extending the interior earthen floor into a terrace space made of the same material.

Built in two stories with minimal furnishings and the fewest possible construction steps, this home is designed to resemble a simple cabin so as not to disrupt the surrounding environment. It stands in the town with a slightly taller profile, crowned by a gabled roof. Furthermore, through the building’s placement on the lot and the arrangement of its openings, the architecture itself reflects the unique character of this location.