Promenade House by FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Facing extremely narrow site conditions, FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects designed a house that is only 2.7 meters wide, and 27 meters long. Located in Shiga, Japan, the limitations of the site are reflected in the interior space planning of the house, where most rooms have been arranged in a linear sequence.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

The internal space features a long narrow hallway that emphasizes the form of the house. The hallway provides access to several rooms, and makes the connection between the entrance and raised study on the other side of the house.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Footlights through the dining and living rooms have been used to illuminate the dark hallway, and create visual interest.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Raised on a platform, the study becomes the feature element of the ground floor. The large window and skylight open up the space, and offer an idyllic view.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

The second floor houses two different hallways. A vivid green hallway surrounds the balcony, and bathrooms, to give the impression of ‘cleanliness’.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

The second corridor separates the bedroom and kids room through ‘light transmissive curtains’. The end of the hallway becomes an interior ‘bridge’ over the study area. The two spaces are connected through a ladder, even though the owners have a separate access to the second floor through an exterior ramp.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

The architects used the green walls to create focal points throughout the house, as well as emphasize the length of the building.

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

Image © FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Image © FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Image © FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Image © FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Image © FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

The hallways laid out in this house are the promenades that strongly impress the site geometry.

– FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects

Facts:

Architects: FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects
Location: Shiga, Japan
Client: Private
Construction Year: 2013
Site Area: 166, 08 m²
Constructed Area: 124,3 m²
Photographs: Takumi Ota, Kei Nakajim

*All images and information courtesy of FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects.