Courtyard House in Warabi City｜Archiplace

Planned in a neighborhood retaining the character of the old Nakasendō, this is a forever home for a couple in their late fifties.

A courtyard was created on the southwest side of the site, which enjoys the best environmental conditions, and enclosed by the building and a lattice-like fence. This creates a home that opens generously onto the garden while ensuring privacy. The living and dining areas become one with the garden, admitting soft sunlight throughout the day, while opening the windows allows a pleasant breeze to pass through the house.

By placing the garden at the center of daily life, the house provides an environment where the changing seasons and presence of nature can be felt close at hand. The composition, closed to the outside and open to the inside, achieves both tranquility and a sense of openness despite being located in an urban residential neighborhood.

On the second floor, in addition to a guest bedroom, a large multipurpose room was provided with future subdivisions in mind. Its flexibility allows it to accommodate multigenerational living in the future and respond to changes in the family structure and lifestyle. The rooftop is also accessible, creating an open place where the sky and surrounding views can be enjoyed.

The aim was to create a rich courtyard house in which the garden and interior resonate with one another, carrying forward into the present the wisdom of Japanese housing, which has long incorporated the blessings of nature into everyday life.

Building Overview

Location　　Warabi City, Saitama Prefecture
Family　　　Couple
Completion　April 2014
Structure　　Two-story timber construction (SE Construction Method)
Site area　　255.55 m² (77.30 tsubo)
Building area　116.77 m² (35.32 tsubo)
Total floor area　171.33 m² (51.83 tsubo)
Design and supervision　Archiplace
Structural design　NCN (Nihon CLT Network)
Construction　Neat Co., Ltd.
Landscaping　TOKUZOU
Notes　　　ENE-FARM, hydronic floor heating (TES)

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