Introducing Shift Block, a custom-built home example by KICHI ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, a Architect / Design office in 4-6-3 Kenkyu Gakuen, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

At first glance one might not recognize this residence as a timber structure. The second floor appears to be tilted, giving the impression that it has merely been placed atop the first floor; however, this is an effect deliberately produced by the design as a visual trick.

The building incorporates a tatami room that faces a walled private garden. It is a quiet, contemplative space where occupants can spend tranquil time while screening views from the exterior. A diagonally arranged staircase is another defining feature of the house; it not only introduces movement into the interior but also provides the inhabitants with a subtle sense of uplift.

The second floor is configured with a slight inclination relative to the first, so that moving between levels changes sightlines and the perceived extent of the space. The house offers a three‑dimensional experience in which different vistas unfold on the first and second floors.