Second-Floor Living｜Custom-built homes by architecture firms9Picks｜Enjoying Views and Light on the Upper Floor

In densely built urban neighborhoods and on scenic sloped sites, locating the living room on the second floor can simultaneously address multiple issues such as daylighting, natural ventilation, views, and privacy. By concentrating private rooms and wet areas on the first floor and making the second floor the public living space, a home can be realized in which the daytime living area receives abundant light and breezes. At the same time, it is prudent to consider practical matters such as the circulation for bringing in daily shopping and provisions, and future measures for accessibility and universal design. Architectural practices carefully read the site conditions and the family’s lifestyle to propose homes that maximize the potential of second‑floor living. Please see the examples that convey a strong sense of openness.

This residence is situated on the Yamate hillside of Kobe, along the Sumiyoshi River. While maximizing Kobe’s characteristic views of mountain and sea, a split-level (skip-floor) plan is adopted to respond to the site’s changes in elevation, and the building is simply articulated in timber construction. By sitting close to the topography, unobstructed sightlines are secured, creating a three-dimensional space where different vistas can be enjoyed on each tier. It is a home that directly incorporates the appeal of a location where the natural environment and the urban presence intersect into everyday living.

An architect's own residence located at the northern edge of the Nōbi Plain on a site with a pronounced level change where the plain meets upland terrain. The square plan is rotated 45° to reconcile openness and privacy by avoiding direct sightlines from the main road and neighboring houses. The site's elevation difference is used so that primary living spaces are on the second floor. A hybrid concrete-and-wood structure leaves materials exposed to express their natural qualities. The layout centers on the dining area and allows for continuous circulation so that, except for sleeping, daily life takes place on the second floor. Materials such as solid timber, brass, and stone were chosen to develop patina over time and to harmonize with the southern rural landscape.

A courtyard house that incorporates the surrounding scenery by distributing courtyards throughout.

A residence for a family of four built on a narrow site in Osaka Sayama City. Set within an environment flanked on both sides by three-story houses, the project pursued a rich spatial experience while reconciling numerous programmatic requirements, such as a parking space, bicycle storage for each family member, private rooms, and a rooftop. The emblematic element is the cube-like double-height void created in the second-floor living room. By securing a two-story height, it achieves a sense of openness and expansiveness that transcends the limited floor area. This is a home in which structure and design have been refined and integrated.

This is the final residence for a couple who have finished raising their children. On the second floor, which serves as the heart of daily life, the living and dining areas are arranged to frame a southeast-facing terrace. The semi-outdoor terrace, created by openings in the roof and walls, screens views from the surroundings while admitting light and natural ventilation, providing a place where the changing seasons can be felt up close. Changes in floor levels beginning at the music room on the first floor, the double-height void, and the observation terrace give the spaces a rich sense of depth, allowing residents to enjoy the continuity and variety characteristic of a three-story timber structure.

Located in an urban residential neighborhood, “Clip Box” is a dwelling that creates a rich spatial experience within a compact footprint. The exterior, where three white planes interlock with a mortar-finished wall, attains a pronounced sense of depth through the shadows cast by the layered walls. Internally, a skip-floor (split-level) living area connects to the dining space via a staircase. Smooth, efficient circulation that consolidates the necessary functions provides a comfortable living environment.

Behind a façade of overlapping white walls, this residence conceals a rich "sequence." From the entrance, ascending to the second floor via the stair within a double-height void, the view opens toward a large south-facing opening and a deck, and beyond them the expanse of the sky. The LDK is a place where the family gathers comfortably while feeling connected to the outdoors. Attention is paid to storage, household circulation, and a looped circulation that allows the presence of family members to be perceived, creating a stage for a rich daily life that brings small discoveries and a sense of attachment to everyday movements.