Minimalist Japanese home maximizes its narrow, sloped site

There’s some innovative residential architecture coming out of Kobe, Japan’s sixth largest city, like this eight foot wife skinny house and “Re-Slope,” a minimalist home that takes advantage of its sloping site by offering terrace-like spaces in the interior.

Its architect, Tomhiro Hata, has designed another such home, approaching its steeply sloped—and narrow—location as an advantage, not a nuisance. Starting from the street level, the minimalist home unfurls up the hill by way of a series of floors and terraces that are reminiscent of whitewashed Greek homes in Santorini. The residence is all the more striking because of its neighboring homes, which bear a more traditional look.

Adding depth to the program are oversized arches that make up the facades but also repeat inside the home. These curved openings promote flowing, open-plan living that still manages to connect each space by way of open staircases, mezzanines, lofts, and seamless indoor-outdoor access.

The simplicity of the white concrete facade repeats inside, where pale hardwood floors, natural wood furniture, and built-ins—not to mention the many generously proportioned windows—create a sun-filled environment that is both sculptural and cozy. Take a look.

Via: Designboom